Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2014–Feb 7th, 2014

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Weather Forecast

There is a gradual warming trend where highs will reach minus 12C by Sunday and lows will be around -16C. The Arctic high continues to dominate the weather until early next week.

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of recent snow sits on the January 30th surface hoar below treeline. In the alpine this recent snow is over a firm wind slab or a thick sun crust on S & W aspects. The basal facet layer is dormant for now in the current weather pattern. It will become active again once we get more snow and wind.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.