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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 15th, 2021–Nov 16th, 2021

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

We are just coming out of the first major storm of the winter. It was a doozy! A warm storm with up to 90 mm of precipitation (water equivalency) - uncommon for the Rockies. Give the new snow time to settle before committing to bigger terrain.

Weather Forecast

The storm is tapering Monday evening with precipitation stopping, temperatures cooling and winds switching to the NW and decreasing overnight. A ridge is building for Tuesday - Thursday and we will see clear skies, cold temperatures (lows in the -15 to -20 range) and light NW winds.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 70cm of storm snow since Friday with moderate SW winds have created windslabs in the alpine and at treeline and storm slabs at all elevations. This buries a relatively thin, facetted snowpack with a couple crusts in it. Total snow depths are 60-100cm at treeline with more in the alpine. Below 2000m, rain has saturated the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise ski area reported a widespread natural cycle up to size 2.5 along with a skiier remote size 2 at treeline. Sunshine reported similar with some running as wet loose avalanches at lower elevations. These were a combination of windslab and storm slab avalanches.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.