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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 16th, 2020–Nov 17th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Ice-climbers pay attention to the forecasted strong winds and warming on Tuesday. Now would be a good time to pull back and reduce your exposure to large overhead hazard.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday should bring scattered flurries (with light rain at lower elevations) and strong SW winds. Freezing levels forecasted to reach 2000m. Cooler temperatures and continued light snow forecast for Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40 cm of settled snow overtop of the Nov 5 crust. This crust ranges from 1 to10 cm thick and exists up to 2400m in the Lake Louise/Bow Summit area and to 2700 m in the Sunshine area. Wind slabs can be expected throughout the region at treeline and above. The snowpack ranges from 50-100 cm thick at treeline elevations.

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine ski resort reported several size 1 natural and skier triggered avalanches at approx 2400 m. A size 2 natural wind-slab at 2500m was reported from the Field area.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.