Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2012–Dec 30th, 2012

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Mainly stable conditions exist, but it is still an early season snowpack. Avoid areas of wind slab in very steep, high alpine terrain, and thin areas along the front ranges. SH

Weather Forecast

Light NW winds, no new snow, and mainly clear skies Sunday (valley cloud W of divide) with the trend continuing through the forecast period. Freezing levels to valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs in alpine ridgetop features stubborn to unreactive 20-40cm thick from field reports and local ski hill operations.. W of divide well settled snowpack in deeper locations with basal Nov6 crust well bonded. Front ranges E of divide mainly facetted snowpack, with the Nov6 basal crust being mainly facetted.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches reported in the last 24 hours from numerous areas and operations. A report on the Wapta from Friday saw several large cornice failures in high alpine terrain which caused either no result or sloughing.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Sunday

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.