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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 6th, 2013–Dec 7th, 2013

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Cold temperatures continue to be the major factor affecting the snowpack today. The snowpack overall is relatively weak and shallow with a deep persistent basal weakness. Early season hazards such as stumps and rocks are near the surface.

Weather Forecast

The cold temperatures and clear skies will continue for the next couple days with only slightly warmer temperatures over the weekend. No significant snowfall is expected until the middle of next week however a small system may arrive from the North on Monday bringing cloudy skies and very light amounts of snow.

Snowpack Summary

Continuing cold temperatures means not much active is happening in the snowpack. The surface and basal layers will continue to facet. Snowpack depths at tree line are around 60-70cm.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed today on a flight over the main ranges to Lake O'Hara. A full depth size 2.5 release on a steep planar NW feature at 2400m on Copper Mtn was observed 2 days ago. Likely the northerly winds and cross loading across this slope with the coming of the arctic front was the trigger.

Confidence

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.