Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
With fresh slabs over a weak layer, avalanche activity can be expected this weekend. Skiers should take a cautious approach with steep or large slopes and climbers should consider their exposure to overhead avalanche terrain.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
- Choose ice climbs that are not exposed to avalanches from above.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
The snow that fell on Halloween became faceted by the early November cold snap. Soft slabs of snow now sit above this weak snow and have been reactive to skier traffic and small triggers such as sluffs out of rocky terrain.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to steep, planar slopes.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday, forecasters kicked off a size 1.5, 30-40cm deep soft storm slab over facets today in a steeper alpine moraine feature. Similar avalanches were reported today on Mt Ogden. Our tour found more wind effect in Sunshine area today. Sunshine patrollers reported continued activity over the facets with windslabs building in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
Flurries continued today with moderate West winds to bring storm amounts to 15 to 25cm in the last 48 hours. The alpine snowpack ranges from 50-100 cm across the region with the main feature to watch in the snowpack being a layer of facets now buried 25 to 40 cm . Below 2700m these facets sit above a temperature crust that was buried on Halloween.
Weather Forecast
Sunday, models show up to 25 cm of snow to fall by Monday morning with temperatures sticking to the -5 to -10C range. Alpine winds will continue in the strong range through Sunday.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/banff-yoho-kootenay.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Strong West winds were moving a great deal of snow today in the alpine. With more snow on the way Sunday and sustained winds, expect these slabs to continue to develop.