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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2023–Mar 24th, 2023

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

A stronger and deeper snowpack exists in the Yoho zone. Pay attention to shallower areas where the potential to trigger the deeper weak layers is more likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches up to size 2 have been reported out of steep solar aspects on Wed and Thur. On Tuesday, there was a deep persistent slab reported on Observation peak and Sunshine patrol reported observing two size 2.5 deep slabs in the surrounding backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Surface sun crusts exist on solar aspects to near ridgetops and up to 2000 m on shady aspects. The mid and lower snowpack is stronger and more settled in this region due to the deeper snowpack, but continue to pay attention to shallower areas that will display a weaker snowpack.

Weather Summary

Friday - A trough of low pressure over the Alberta Rockies will produce cloudy skies and scattered flurries that will increase through the afternoon. Accumulations in the 1-5 cm range. Ridge-top winds will be light and the freezing levels only expected to rise to 1300 m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.