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

Jan 22nd, 2022–Jan 23rd, 2022

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=

Steep solar aspects could see increase natural avalanche activity this weekend as clear skies and warmer temps heat southerly aspects.

Be mindful of overhead avalanche hazard, especial on solar aspects.

Weather Forecast

The ridge of high pressure will begin to break down on Sunday with winds becoming more westerly at ridge top. Peak wind values at ridge crest will be in the strong to extreme range through the day. Temperatures will be warmer with freezing levels near 1500m. Steep, sheltered South aspects will likely see increased warming due to solar heating.

Snowpack Summary

Recent wind and new snow have created fresh wind slabs in the alpine and some tree-line areas. The new snow overlie facets in many places resulting in wide propagations in recent avalanches. The Dec. 2 crust and facets are generally 100-150cm deep producing hard to no results. Snow depth at tree-line is around 200-250 cm.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported Saturday. Avalanche control in Yoho last week produced slabs with every shot. Most were failing on a windslab or facet layer 40-60cm deep and then entraining facets in the track. One stepped down to the November facets ~ 180 cm deep.

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.