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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 17th, 2025–Nov 18th, 2025

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

Natural avalanches are not expected on Tuesday, but small windslabs in alpine lee areas remain a concern. Ice climbers kicking steps in steep, rocky snow slopes and riders in windloaded areas are the likely scenarios to encounter a windslab. Any avalanche could be a nasty ride with the shallow snowpack and early-season hazards.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Ski areas are reporting a few small (size 1 to 1.5) explosive-triggered windslabs and wet slabs in isolated locations. No natural avalanche activity has been reported or observed.

Snowpack Summary

Limited early-season observations indicate a generally well-settled Rockies snowpack with no significant weak layers. Last week's wet snow and rain left a rain crust (Nov 13) to 2300 m. In the short term, this adds stability to the snowpack and with 5-10 cm of dry snow on top, only isolated windslabs have been reported along with good early-season travel conditions. Treeline snow depths range from 40-70 cm.

Weather Summary

Mild temperatures will continue for one more day, with Tuesday's freezing level remaining at 1900m through the day, along with 5-10 cm of snow accumulation with mostly light winds. Overnight Tuesday, the temperature begins to fall, reaching -10 on Wednesday and -13 on Thursday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.

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.