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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 10th, 2023–Feb 11th, 2023

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

Forecasted moderate to strong winds will continue to load the recent storm snow at upper elevations. We continue to see avalanches failing on the windslab problem and in some cases stepping down to the deep persistent layer.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Touchy wind slabs were found Thursday during avalanche control on Hwy 93 S producing results up to size 3. Many avalanches stepped to the ground. Local ski hills continue to report reactive wind slabs at upper elevations producing avalanches to size 2.

Snowpack Summary

Upto 35cm of recent storm snow in the North (15cm in the South) of the region has been redistributed by strong winds forming widespread, reactive windslabs at higher elevations. Two crusts exist in the upper snowpack and the November facets remain near the base. These buried weak layers remain a concern and continue to produce avalanches. Minimal reactivity has been observed below treeline.

Weather Summary

A westerly flow will continue to bring cloudy skies and light precipitation over the weekend. Snow accumulation will be greater on the Western slopes of the Rockies with up to 10cm by Monday. Ridgetop winds will stay in the moderate to strong range from the West, and freezing levels near valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.