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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 14th, 2024–Feb 15th, 2024

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

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

Backcountry conditions are good with some of the best travel conditions of the winter right now. However, we remain wary of thin snowpack areas which are weak and despite wishing for low avalanche danger, we continue to be surprised by occasional avalanches failing on the ground in thin snowpack areas.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 and 2.5 skier-triggered deep persistent slab in the Cirque Forepeak area occurred Tuesday showing that the persistent layers can still be triggered in thin snowpack areas.

Sunshine Patrol reported triggering small, lingering windslabs in alpine areas.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of soft, dry snow sits over the Feb 3 crust which exists in most locations (except high north aspects). This crust has helped to stabilize the snowpack, and at this time is not presenting as a weak layer of concern. This will change if this crust deteriorates (facets), the wind picks up or the sun heats the snowpack. Persistent weak layers in the mid and bottom of the snowpack remain a concern and continue to produce avalanches at the ground level in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

A ridge of high pressure will dominate the region for the next several days bringing mostly blue skies, temperatures from -10 to -20 and light NE winds. No new snow is expected.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.