Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Nov 21 – 22, 2013Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

There is lots of snow available for transport. Pay attention to local winds and be aware of fresh wind slabs.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Thirty to 50 cm of recent storm snow and moderate winds have produced wind slabs in alpine terrain. This wind effect is more pronounced in the Sunshine area.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Sunshine Village reporting a touchy storm slab that is easily triggered and has wide propagation. Some slabs have stepped down to the October rain crust layer producing avalanches up to Class 3. See avalanche reports.

Weather Forecast

High pressure dominates the region. Mixed sun and cloud with no snow in the forecast. Another cool day for Thursday and then a warming trend for the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Thirty to 50 cm of low density storm snow received throughout the area in past six days. Sunshine reporting lots of reactive wind and storm slabs while north of Lake Louise wind effect not as wide-spread. The mid pack is slowly gaining a bit of strength. The Oct rain crust persists at ground level in some alpine terrain.

Avalanche Summary

From Lake Louise to Bow Summit there was evidence of a cycle up to Class 2 occurring during the storm, however surprisingly little recent natural activity. Explosive work at Sunshine produced many avalanches on N-NE aspects up to Class 3. There was wide propagation with some avalanches stepping down to the Oct crust.

Confidence

Regions covered