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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2013–Apr 20th, 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.

Conditions are generally good.  In bigger alpine terrain, watch out for thin wind slabs  that can be triggered in steep terrain.  If the sun pokes out Saturday, watch for increasing hazard on solar slopes. SH

Weather Forecast

Moderate W-NW winds Saturday with cooling temperatures and freezing levels staying near valley bottom.  Light snow Friday night into Saturday.  Sunday through Monday expect cooling temperatures and light N winds.

Snowpack Summary

A weak freeze this morning with freezing levels up to 2000m. There are areas of wind effect in the alpine and isolated wind slabs can be expected in lee areas above 2400 m which can be triggered in steep terrain.

Avalanche Summary

A field team on the South side of Mt. Patterson ski cut a size 1 thin avalanche out of 45 degree terrain at 3100m today.  A size 2 avalanche was also triggered yesterday which was 50cm thick and  80cm wide, which apparently slid on a crust on a SE aspect.  This was on Mt. Unity in the Lake Louise backcountry at 2500m.

Confidence

on Saturday

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.