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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 10th, 2019–Nov 11th, 2019

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

There is lots of fresh powder to enjoy, but recent winds will have created fresh wind slabs. A cautious approach to open terrain at and above tree line is needed.

Weather Forecast

No new snow forecasted for Monday, but winds are expected to pick up from the west into the moderate to strong range at ridgetops. Light snow will begin again on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of storm snow at tree-line sits over top of a rain crust (below 2300m). Strong winds forecasted for Monday will create fresh wind-slabs in the alpine and down into tree-line. The thin October crust and facets in the lower snowpack have been found up to about 2300m. Tree-line snow depths range from 60-80 cm deep (up to 110 cm in lee areas).

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise ski hill reported widespread natural cycle in storm snow up to size 1.5. Several size 2.5 slabs observed in Yoho that originated near ridge-top and ran to top of track.

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.

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.

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.