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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2016–Jan 28th, 2016

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Strong winds and new snow forecast for Thursday. Pay attention to changing conditions.

Weather Forecast

Strong westerly winds, freezing levels up to 1900 m, and 10-15 cm of new snow forecast for Thursday. Friday will bring cooling temperatures, light winds, and isolated flurries.

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of new snow overlies the January 6 weak layer which is surface hoar between 1500 and 2000 m and facets above this. Natural and explosive triggered avalanches have been observed on this layer in the past 48 hours. Strong westerly winds on Wednesday night have created fresh wind slabs at and above treeline. A rain crust exists below 1500 m

Avalanche Summary

Fresh avalanches in the alpine (up to size 2.5) have been observed in the Field and Emerald Lake area.

Monday's avalanche control work in Kootenay resulted in widespread avalanches between size 2 and 3 with fracture lines ranging from 25-50 cm deep failing on the Jan 6th layer of surface hoar and facets.

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.