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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 7th, 2017–Jan 8th, 2017
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Little Yoho.

Watch for wind slabs over rotten snow in thinner snowpack areas. This poor snowpack structure could easily lead to a bad surprise.

Weather Forecast

Cool temperatures and light flurries are forecast. As of yet things are still forming but we may be looking at a bit of snow and slightly warmer temps reaching us by Sunday night before things dry out and cool down again by Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

The storm snow from last week has settled and tops a 100-150 cm snowpack at tree line. In areas with a thinner snowpack the mid pack facets exist and are quite weak. In these areas the main issue is wind slabs forming a cohesive slab over the facets with potential for larger propagations. Thicker snowpack areas have few weaknesses in the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No natural activity was reported or observed in Little Yoho today though observations in the surrounding area continue to show occasional slabs failing on the mid pack facets during the last couple days.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs exist in alpine and some treeline locations. Watch for these wind slabs as you transition into alpine terrain.

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

In areas with less than 150cm of snow the weak mid pack facets from early December remain. This is a concern wherever a cohesive slab of recent snow sits on top of this weakness. Wind loaded areas are the primary concern.

  • Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3