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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 14th, 2017–Feb 15th, 2017

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Conditions remain tricky now that is has warmed up following last week's storm. Many avalanches have occurred in both skiing and climbing terrain over the past week. Although we are over the peak of the cycle, give it more time to heal.

Weather Forecast

Another day of warm temperatures is expected on Wednesday, but this time with a bit more cloud cover and maybe a few flakes of snow. Expect treeline temperatures to reach 5 degrees, and the winds will return to SW 75-100 km/hr. The temperatures will begin to drop again on Thursday, accompanied by some more new snow (5 cm probably).

Snowpack Summary

45 cm of settled snow has formed a cohesive slab overlying a series of weak layers. Test results indicate "sudden" shear failures on these layers, which indicates that they are primed for triggering. Recent strong winds and warm temperatures have tipped the balance, and most slopes that have not avalanche should be considered highly suspect.

Avalanche Summary

Went to Sunshine Village today and was impressed by the widespread avalanche cycle that occurred the last 48-hours - many big, deep avalanches. Avalanche control on Tuesday produced an impressive size 3 avalanche on Vermillion Peak. Patrol up the Icefields Parkway today showed nothing new in the last 24-hr, but lots of large avalanches last 72-hr.

Confidence

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.