Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 20 – 21, 2013Parks Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Basal weaknesses are waking up with the added new snow land wind loading. Avalanche control today again produced large, destructive avalanches.  Use caution in avalanche terrain!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Continuing winds acting on loose facets and the remaining storm snow are expected to maintain considerable hazard in the short term.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Loose snow can quickly pick up speed and mass in gullied terrain.

Weather Forecast

Increasing wind and moderately cold temperatures forecast for tomorrow will continue snow transport. Occasional light flurries are not expected to affect the forecast.

Snowpack Summary

Faceting and windslabs still dominate the Rockies' snowpack. The deep persistent weak layers are still reactive with additional wind-loading. Triggering overlying slabs is likely and will result in large, destructive avalanches as seen in avalanche control work today.

Avalanche Summary

Lee slopes with an easterly component are deep enough to produce large avalanches. Windslabs over loose facets may be very touchy still. All aspects are producing shallow releases which may run quickly in gullied terrain.

Confidence

Regions covered