Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 11th, 2016–Jan 12th, 2016

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The weather is finally changing this week. Not much snow is expected, but the winds are forecast to be West, 50-70 km/hr in alpine areas on Tuesday. Heads-up for resulting windslabs up to size 2. A subtle change from the conditions of the past weeks.

Weather Forecast

The good news it that this strong ridge of high pressure is retreating, and this week we return to a more typical westerly flow which aligns the storm track over our area. The bad news is there's not much snow in the that flow. Expect overcast skies and trace amounts of snow for Tuesday along with moderate SW winds up high and temps from -5 to -10.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack has been static now for weeks, with little change other than the slow, ongoing process of facetting. Over time, this results in a gradual weakening of the snowpack beginning in shallow areas and the top 20cm of the snowpack. This is of little consequence until the next storm, when new snow will probably bond poorly these weak facets.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday in Kootenay National Park, ski tourers triggered two size 1.5 slab avalanches near to Vermillion Peak. Reports indicate these were windslabs resulting from the recent 10 cm of snow and wind, bonding poorly to a sun crust at 2500 meters.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Loose Dry

The snow feels old. It is dry and becoming very facetted, meaning it has little in the way cohesion and sluffs easy. For people riding steep slopes, remember your sluff management, and ice climbers watch you don't get knocked off your feet.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Although our area only received about 10 cm of snow earlier this week, rising winds above treeline have created isolated windslabs up to 30 cm deep, sometimes bonding poorly to the underlying suncrust or facets.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2