Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 7th, 2014–Jan 8th, 2014

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Watch for rising avalanche hazard on Friday with forecasted new storm snow.

Weather Forecast

Scattered flurries for Wednesday with seasonal temperatures.  Significant snow beginning Thursday night through Friday with 10-20 cm forecasted. Winds expected to be westerly in the moderate range. The last few days there has been a temperature inversion with ridge top temperatures significantly warmer then the valley bottoms.

Snowpack Summary

Total snowpack depths across the region range from 100-140 cm, and are comprised of soft surface snow above a weak and facetted snowpack. In many areas at treeline and above, recent winds have created thin windslabs. Foot penetration is to ground in most places, again demonstrating the weakness of the snowpack. This situation will not change soon.

Avalanche Summary

The widespread natural avalanche activity that was reported two days ago has subsided. No natural avalanches have been reported in the past 24 hours, however human triggered avalanches are still possible in many locations.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday

Problems

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.

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.