Avalanche Forecast

Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks

Date issued

Nov 5, 2017 - 7:38 AM

Valid until

until further notice

Prepared by

grant statham

Our information is limited because we don't have many field observations yet. Skiing is possible due to a buried ice crust in the middle of the snowpack that carries the weight of skiers above 2200 m. Once up there, small pockets of windslab exist.

Danger Ratings
Problems
Details

Early Season Conditions

Insufficient observations exist to reliably rate the avalanche danger. Expect shallow snow cover with thinly buried rocks and trees just beneath the surface. Avalanche danger often concentrates in gullies and other deposition areas, where windslabs may bond poorly to a weak underlying base. Deeper snow usually exists at higher elevations.

More Early Season Details

Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs

What Elevation?

Which Slopes?

Chances of Avalanches?

Expected Size?

This is a typical early winter avalanche problem that exists in isolated pockets where the snow has been drifted into small windslabs and the slope is steep enough to slide. Mainly a concern for ice climbers walking above cliffs or in gullies.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanche activity has been reported.

Snowpack Summary

An average of 30-50 cm at treeline and 100 cm in alpine locations. The snowpack is unconsolidated at lower elevations but a thick rain crust formed prior to Halloween exists 20 cm above the ground. Winds above treeline have hammered the snow and created pockets of windslab. On glaciers be wary of the ice-snow interface and check it for instability.

Weather Forecast

Northern flow continues to keep cold arctic air in our region for the next few days. Expect high overcast and light flurries or clearing skies through mid-week with no significant snow accumulations expected through the middle of the week.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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