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

Feb 12th, 2015–Feb 13th, 2015

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Continued warm temperatures have made for poor conditions below 1800m. At higher elevations, conditions are still prime for human triggering and cautious route selection is essential.

Weather Forecast

Continued warm temperatures with freezing levels around 2000m until Saturday AM. The winds have picked up from the west and are forecasted to be in the moderate to strong range at ridgetop until Saturday PM. A small bout of precipitation (5 -10 mm) on Friday overnight, but otherwise partly cloudy skies with a clearing trend Saturday AM.

Snowpack Summary

45-70 cm of storm snow above 2000m overlies either a rain crust or facets from January 30th. This snow combined with warm temperatures has created storm and wind slabs. Lower elevation ski conditions are abysmal with little recovery overnight creating isothermal conditions below 1800m today.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity is tapering as the snowpack slowly adjusts to the new load. However, moderate to hard sudden collapse snowpack tests today in the Bow Summit area indicate skier triggering is still very possible.

Confidence

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.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.