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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2017–Jan 23rd, 2017

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Caution is still advised TL and below where a weak basal snowpack remains a concern. Watch for windslabs in the alpine. Parks Canada will be conducting Avalanche Control on Mts Bosworth, Field, Stephen and Dennis Monday Jan 23. No skiing or climbing!

Weather Forecast

A bit more cloud with a chance of trace amounts of precip for Monday before skies clear. Cold nights will be the price to pay for sunny afternoons with maybe some light winds reaching -5 C at valley bottom elevations. Watch for the sun to create moist snow on steep SW slopes given these conditions.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slab from SW winds in the alpine where mid-pack facets produce variable moderate to very hard shears down 100cm in deeper snowpack. Isolated SH produces easy shears below storm snow at treeline. Mid-pack facets produce consistent moderate results at Treeline and Below. Solar effects on Steep SW at treeline and more modest angles S-W BTL.

Avalanche Summary

A few deep persistent slabs were observed today both appeared fresh but could be up to 3 days old and were sz 2. SW aspect from 2650m on Mt Ogden failed about 60 deep and 60 wide running about 450m. On the NW aspect of Wapta above Emerald lake 80 deep and 80 wide running several hundred meters. Otherwise evidence of previous loose wet activity BTL.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.