Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 20th, 2015 4:00PM

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

patrick jerome, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The hazard is now moderate but remember that moderate is not 'good to go'. Sensible terrain choices are required irrespective of hazard ratings. The snowpack structure at the base is still lousy and confidence in its overall strength is suspect.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A weak disturbance passage today will give rise to another upper ridge of high pressure that will build in for the remainder of the week. Cold air will move in briefly on Saturday but will not linger for too long. Freezing levels will rise to 2100 meters for Monday. Little precipitation is forecast anytime this week.

Snowpack Summary

The upper and mid sections of the snowpack continues to settle out and with exception of the Little Yoho, much of the rest of the Rockies snowpack still has the basal facet and depth hoar weaknesses component intact. Temperature crust present below 2000 meters northerly aspects and solar crusts are present to higher elevations and steeper slopes.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported today.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations on Saturday

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The base of the snowpack is weak due to the presence of basal depth hoar and facets. Natural activity has ceased but skier triggering is still possible on this layer especially in shallow areas and places where the snowpack is unevenly distributed.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Be cautious near ridge-crests and in lee areas.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 21st, 2015 4:00PM