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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 9th, 2022–Feb 10th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Warm temperatures are expected to continue on Thursday. Forecasters are uncertain to what degree this will impact both the wind slab and persistent slab problems. Cooling on Friday will improve conditions (but maybe not the skiing).

Weather Forecast

Warm temperatures will persist into Thursday, and will then return to seasonal temperature range on Friday. There also is a possibility that small amounts of snow could arrive Wednesday overnight (~10cm). Wind will remain elevated from the West in the strong range.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps have settled recent storm snow in the alpine. Expect wind slabs in lee areas from previous wind event. At tree line and below the recent storm snow is beginning to develop into a slab, which overlays the Jan 30 surface hoar and sun crust. This interface is found 20 to 30cm down. Shallow snowpack areas remain weak and faceted.

Avalanche Summary

Very little in the way of substantial avalanche reports from either ski area today. Other than observations of pin-wheeling from steep south aspects in the alpine, no avalanches were observed or reported.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Wednesday

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.