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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 20th, 2016–Dec 21st, 2016
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
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
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
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.

Avalanche Control will occur tomorrow on Mt Bourgeau, Mt Stephen, Mt Field, and Mt Bosworth. No skiing or climbing in these areas.

Give the windslab/facet interface a few days to settle and bond. JPK

Weather Forecast

Relatively warm winter temperatures, a little more snow and continued westerly winds are forecast for the area. This should be good news in the long term but it is expected that the new snow facet interface will take a while to bond.

Snowpack Summary

The storm has brought us 30 cm of new snow in the Yoho area. Moderate to strong winds have created a windslab that overlays a very loose faceted snowpack. The windslab/facet interface produced easy results in our snowpack tests. The Nov crust is 30-80cm deep, and is not currently reactive.

Avalanche Summary

Monday saw an increase in avalanche activity that was not apparent today. Poor visibility may have limited observations.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow and strong winds have created a windslab on exposed slopes in the alpine and tree line that could be easily skier triggered. This new slab sits over a very faceted snowpack creating a weak interface.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3