Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 23rd, 2013 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Some light snow Thursday may freshen up some slopes W of the divide, but avoid areas of wind slab which may be buried by new snow. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

5-10 cm possible by Thursday night with mod-strong NW winds and slightly cooling alpine temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

Recent strong winds have created widespread wind effect in the alpine. Windward slopes are scoured and hard and soft slabs that are possible to trigger exist elsewhere. In shallow snowpack areas the mid-pack has facetted out and become weaker. Below 2200 m surface hoar exists in some locations and produces moderate results with comp. tests.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural activity today. Hard windslabs to size 2 have been skier triggered within the last few days in the alpine.

Confidence

on Thursday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Variable wind slabs are prevalent , and will be most likely triggered from shallow snowpack areas propagating into thicker snowpack areas on facets.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 24th, 2013 4:00PM