Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Nov 25 – 26, 2015Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch for fresh windslabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain in the alpine and at treeline. Even a small avalanche in exposed terrain could have high consequences. Overall, a great start to the season in the Rockies, though!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Fresh snow from Mon night and Tues has been blown into windslabs in lee and cross loaded areas. Any avalanches should remain relatively small - but watch out for fresh windslabs in terrain with consequences.

Weather Forecast

An arctic high pressure system has moved in and we are under the influence of N/ NE flow for the foreseeable future. This means cold temps (highs -5 to -10 and lows of -15 to -20 in the valley bottoms), with clear skies and generally light N/ NE winds. Expect some moderate gusts which will make those temperatures feel cold!

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of storm snow from Monday overnight overlies widespread wind effected terrain above treeline, and a soft well settled snowpack below treeline. The new snow is being blown into fresh windslabs in isolated leeward and crossloaded areas at treeline and in the alpine, typically 10-30 cm thick and they may trigger easily.

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine and Lake Louise ski hills were reporting fresh windslabs reactive to ski cuts in alpine and treeline terrain today. These were generally small, and 10- 30 cm deep in lee and crossloaded terrain.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Regions covered