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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 7th, 2022–Feb 8th, 2022

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The recently introduced persistent slab problem dated on Jan 30 is developing. In Kootenay it is located 20-30cm down. This depth will vary depending on location. Dig down to test the reactivity and register the depth before committing to your line.

Weather Forecast

The next few days will bring unsettled weather and small amounts of snow. Notably, the wind will stay elevated in the strong range from the west for the next few days. Also, on Thursday the freezing level could rise to  1700m. In summary, expect a warm ,windy and snowy few days.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds continue to redistribute the 20-30 cm of recent snow at upper elevations creating wind slab on lee slopes. At tree line and below the recent storm snow is beginning to develop into a slab, which overlays the Jan 30 surface hoar and sun crust. This interface is found 20 to 30cm down. Shallow snowpack areas remain weak and faceted.

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise patrollers knocked out a few hard slabs to size 1 with explosives today. Sunshine saw very little in the way of avalanches. There is a report of a size 2 avalanche on Dolomite peak that came from an alpine start zone to the top of the fan, approximately size 2.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Monday

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.