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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 20th, 2023–Nov 21st, 2023

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

Freezing levels up to 2800 m are possible on the east slopes. Watch for increased hazard with daytime warming including rockfall and avalanche activity.

Early Season Conditions persist.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

The ski hill reported a size 2 explosive triggered avalanche on Sunday. In the last week there have been reports of remotely triggering avalanches from up to 100 m away and numerous human and explosive triggered avalanches up to size 2.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack depths range from 30-50 cm at treeline and 40-80 cm in the alpine with deeper pockets of wind deposited snow in lee areas. A melt-freeze crust has formed on the surface from recent solar input on south and west aspects. The bottom of the snowpack consists of a buried crust and facets.

Weather Summary

On Monday, freezing levels up to 2800 m are possible on the east slopes with alpine temps of 0°C and continued strong west winds. A trace to few centimeters of snow and cooler temps are forecasted for Tuesday night into Wednesday.

For more info, please see the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Persistent slabs have potential to pull back to lower angle terrain.
  • Ice climbers should be equipped with avalanche safety gear.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.