Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 20th, 2016 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Avalanche Control will occur tomorrow on Mt Bourgeau, Mt Stephen, Mt Field, and Mt Bosworth. No skiing or climbing in these areas.Give the windslab/facet interface a few days to settle and bond. JPK

Summary

Weather Forecast

Relatively warm winter temperatures, a little more snow and continued westerly winds are forecast for the area. This should be good news in the long term but it is expected that the new snow facet interface will take a while to bond.

Snowpack Summary

The storm has brought us 15 to 30 cm of new snow, with more falling on the West side of the Divide. Moderate to strong winds have created a windslab that overlays a very loose faceted snowpack. The windslab/facet interface produced easy results in our snowpack tests. The Nov crust is 30-80cm deep, and is not currently reactive.

Avalanche Summary

Monday saw an increase in avalanche activity that was not apparent today. Poor visibility may have limited observations.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow and strong winds have created a windslab on exposed slopes in the alpine and tree line that could be easilly skier triggered. This new slab sits over a very faceted snowpack creating a weak interface.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 21st, 2016 4:00PM