Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks - Sat Oct 24, 2020

Issued: Tue Oct 20, 2020 17:00
Valid Until: further notice

There is enough snow to ski in some smooth alpine and treeline features, but getting there will be rough. If you're keen to get out, give yourself extra time and choose an area with easy access to higher elevations. [IJ]

Public Avalanche Forecast
Early Season Conditions:  Tuesday
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.
Weather Observations
learn more about danger ratings...
Past 24 hour weather
Station Maximum (°C) Minimum (°C) Snowfall (cm) Snow Pack (cm) Wind speed Ridgetop wind direction
Simpson 2115/2320m Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available
Bow Summit 2040m Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available
Sunshine 2200m Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available
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.
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.
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.
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.
Extreme
  • Avoid all avalanche terrain.
  • Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.
  • Large to very large avalanches in many areas.
Forecast Details

Weather Forecast

Winter has arrived. Cold temperatures in the forecast with no sign of a return to "normal".

Snowpack Discussion

30 cm of snow at 2000 m in the Bow Summit area rising to 40 cm at treeline. Early season conditions with lots of rocks and hazards around. The snow was dense and supportive with no evidence of a rain crust at 2000 m and above. Evidence of previous wind affect in the alpine.

Avalanche Activity Discussion

None seen on a drive from Banff to Bow Summit and back on Oct. 20th. There is not enough snow to avalanche at treeline and below.  We suspect there is enough snow to avalanche only in alpine terrain with a smooth bed surface.

For More Details

Emergency: (403) 762-4506
Forecasters: (403) 762-1470

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