Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2013–Jan 10th, 2013

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Avalanche control planned for Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. Please no skiing/climbing on Mt. Bourgeau, Mt. Whymper, Mt. Stephen and Mt. Dennis on Thursday.

Weather Forecast

Another 5-10 cm forecasted for Wednesday night. Precipitation expected to ease off by noon on Thursday with a cooling trend for Thursday afternoon. Clear and cool temperatures forecast for Friday and the weekend

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm new snow in past 24 hrs at treeline and up to 80 cm in past 72 hours. Mod SW winds producing storm slabs that are sitting on a weak facet layer. Widespread natural cycle in storm snow observed today

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural avalanches up to Class 3 running to top of run-out zones observed today. Explosive control on Sunshine Road produced one Class 3 avalanche that buried road 80 cm deep by 15 metres wide

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

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.