Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 21st, 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 and Wind Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The weaker basal depth hoar/facets aren't going anywhere in a hurry. We still have low confidence in shallow or variable snowpack areas. Travel conditions are excellent. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will start to creep up Sunday but we will stay in a light Northerly flow. A mild inversion (alpine temps still below freezing) will enter the region Sunday night into Monday with mainly sunny skies.

Snowpack Summary

A well settled upper snowpack with highly variable depths sits over the ever present weak facets and depth hoar in the bottom half of the snowpack. Colder temperatures have helped the slab bridge over the weaker base. On Saturday, strong to extreme North winds up Hwy 93N formed thin wind slabs in the lees of ridge crests and gully features.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported today.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The lower half of the snowpack is weak due to the presence of basal depth hoar and facet layers. Natural activity has ceased but skier triggering is still possible, especially in shallow areas and places where the snowpack is unevenly distributed.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Be cautious near ridge-crests and in lee areas. These seem to be isolated to the Icefields Parkway region (found on Observation sub-peak Saturday). These will be a short term problem.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 22nd, 2015 4:00PM