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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 2nd, 2021–Feb 3rd, 2021

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Avalanche control is planned on Mt Dennis (Field backroad and beer ice climbs), Mt Stephen and Mt Field in Yoho on Wednesday February 3rd. No access to these areas on Wednesday!

Weather Forecast

Cooling temperatures, easing winds and a brief clearing on Wednesday as the overall flow shifts to the NW. Thursday and Friday are showing continued light precipitation (3-5 cm per day), cool temperatures and gradually building alpine winds into the strong range from the NW at 3000m elevation. Possibility of an upslope on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Another 10-20 cm of new snow on Tuesday brings totals to 30-60 cm since Jan. 27th. This snow is low density below treeline, but is forming slabs up to 100 cm deep above treeline where the wind is doing some light drifting. The lower snowpack has a series of persistent weak layers that remain dormant. Snowpack amounts at treeline are 150-220 cm

Avalanche Summary

An avalanche cycle up to size 2.5 occurred today in the Lake Louise/Yoho/93N area with an intense cell of precipitation that dropped 15-20 cm in a few hours. Many of these were storm slabs or loose dry avalanches out of steep cliffy terrain.

Sunshine was reporting less new snow but a period of strong south winds building touchy windslabs

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.