Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 14th, 2013 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Keep your eyes on the alpine when the strong winds begin to blow again on Friday. There is still enough snow to transport and create further instabilities on lee features.

Summary

Weather Forecast

We are in for a windy day in the alpine tomorrow, with strong to extreme values from the NW. Freezing level likely will be up to 1600m, but no plus temp's in the alpine are expected. No snow expected in our region on Friday, but a cold front passing through on Saturday may deliver a short, intense snow storm in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme winds in the region have sculpted windslabs in the high alpine. A field team in the Little Yoho Valley reported easy shear tests on the storm slab interface. A different field team in Kootenay reported 10-15cm of storm snow with small cornice growth and soft slabs at ridge-top. Both teams observed a weak snowpack where shallow.

Avalanche Summary

Observations from Yoho included several size 1.5-2 soft slabs in the alpine, failing in the storm snow, up to 60cm thick. Several size 1.5-2 loose avalanches from NE-SE alpine terrain in Kootenay were observed today, along with shooting cracks in the snow near ridge-crests.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong W winds accompanied 10-30cm of new snow. This has created new windslabs in alpine and open tree-line lee features. Expect these slabs to be touchy for the next day or two, especially in the alpine.

The best powder will be found in sheltered locations at or below treeline.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 15th, 2013 4:00PM