Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 28th, 2015 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Cooler temperatures are slowly helping to heal the snowpack. Watch for weak snowpack areas where the basal layer could be triggered, and isolated windslabs on high alpine features. Ski quality overall is poor to horrific. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

Alpine temperatures will be in the -10 to -12C range for Thursday with light to moderate NW winds .Â The only "snow" in the forecast is the possibility of a few cm Saturday, but this will not affect the avalanche danger.

Snowpack Summary

Very strong westerly winds have seriously blasted the region. Wind pressed snow in lee terrain can be expected at treeline and above. A crust up to 2500m (higher on solar aspects) can be found in all areas. A field trip to Lake Ohara and a snow study flight E of the divide found moderate compression results on the basal depth hoar at treeline.

Avalanche Summary

The snow study flight East of the divide saw lots of previous activity up to size 3, with no new avalanches. The field trip to Lake Ohara saw only small wet slabs at treeline and below from last weekends cycle. The big alpine peaks had no visible activity with good visibility.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations on Wednesday

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The basal snowpack remains weak although thin snowpack areas have found rounding depth hoar, a rarity for sure! Steep, thin snowpack areas will be the most likely for human triggering.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 29th, 2015 4:00PM