Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 12th, 2020–Mar 13th, 2020

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

Excellent ski quality and coverage right now. Watch for wind slabs in mainly alpine features when exposing yourself to committing terrain.

Weather Forecast

An Easterly flow will develop Friday with winds increasing to moderate by the afternoon. Only a few cm of snow are in the forecast Friday and temperatures will decrease to -20 to -25C by Saturday AM. Alpine winds could spike into the extreme range Saturday AM.

Snowpack Summary

15-25cm of snow Wednesday night has been transported by moderate winds at upper elevations creating wind slabs on immediate lee slopes. On steep solar a thin crust has formed on the surface. The deep snowpack of Little Yoho is generally quite strong with few weaknesses.

Avalanche Summary

Ski hills reported some wind slabs on lee slopes at upper elevations. No new natural avalanches observed in Little Yoho Thursday.

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.