Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 24th, 2015 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Persistent Slabs.

conrad janzen, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Low, Low, Low, Merry Christmas!Continue to evaluate steep alpine terrain for small wind slabs and enjoy the great start to the season!

Summary

Weather Forecast

The NW flow continues through Christmas bringing cold and stable weather with no new snow in the forecast until at least the 26th. Upper elevation winds will begin to increase late in the day on Christmas and continue through the 26th. Treeline temperatures should stay between -10 and -16'C

Snowpack Summary

A well settled snowpack with few weaknesses exists throughout the region. Some small isolated wind slabs may exist on leeward slopes in the high alpine. Below 2000m the Dec 3 layer of surface hoar remains visible and produces hard, planar test results in some areas. This weakness is strengthening. Thin snow pack areas are beginning to facet out.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural slab avalanches have been observed recently. Some sluffing has been observed in really steep terrain due to the low density surface snow.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The slab above the Dec 3 surface hoar layer has not been very reactive recently. Snow pack tests produce shears in the moderate to hard range. This is mostly a concern in areas near the divide with a deeper snowpack and more snow over the weakness.

Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 25th, 2015 4:00PM