Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Natural avalanche activity will decrease on Monday but human triggering of wind slabs will remain likely. Use caution or avoid fresh wind loaded areas and narrow gullies until the new snow has had a chance to settle and bond.
Weather Forecast
Winds will stay out of the west but start to decrease on Monday to the moderate range. Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than Sunday, with treeline temperatures between -5 and -10 C. No new snow is expected. Things continue to cool down and clear up on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of new snow with strong W winds have formed new touchy wind slabs at ridge tops and in open alpine areas. The Nov 8 crust is down 20-30 cm and is present up to ~2400 m. The lower snowpack is a mix of facets and the Oct crusts. Snowpack depths at treeline range from 60-90 cm with up to 140 cm in lee areas.
Avalanche Summary
Sunday had numerous natural, skier triggered and explosive triggered small wind slabs up to size 2. These mostly occurred in lee areas near ridge tops and in the high alpine. Triggering these will remain likely into Monday.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs have formed in lee areas near ridge tops and in open alpine areas. Skier or climber triggering of these wind slabs will remain likely into Monday.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
The lower snowpack consists of weak facets and crusts. With the recent snow load there is potential for avalanches to step down to this deeper persistent layer.
- Convex features and steep unsupported slopes will be most prone to triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2