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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 15th, 2020–Nov 16th, 2020

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Recent winds and snow have increased the hazard with the development of wind slabs extending down to treeline. After a brief break early Monday another storm arrives that will likely keep hazard elevated.

Weather Forecast

Alpine winds will diminish to light Monday and shift W with a bit of clearing. A warm front will arrive late in the day with winds increasing to strong in the alpine, shifting S, and temperatures rising. Further warming is expected Tuesday and may include solar influence midday before more precip arrives - some potentially as rain.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25m of snow in the past 48hrs. Moderate South and West winds are building wind slabs. The early Nov crusts exist up to 2400m in the Icefields Parkway area up to 2700m in the Sunshine area. This crust is up to 10cm thick and found 20-40cm above the ground. At tree line the snowpack is 40-100cm with very little snow found below 2200m.

Avalanche Summary

Snowfall favored the southern areas of the region with SSV reporting rapid loading and wind slab development at treeline. Ski cutting produced sz 1 slabs at treeline and explosive control in the Delirium area triggered fresh cornice growth and likely slabs in the alpine (poor visibility). Lake Louise saw activity diminish today with less snowfall.

Confidence

Due to the number 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.

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.