Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 13th, 2021 4:00PM

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

Snow Safety,

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New wind slabs are the main concern in Little Yoho, and cornices have been seen to fail over the last few days.

Summary

Weather Forecast

After another -25 to -30C morning, temperatures will rise again on Sunday with highs at treeline of between -12 to -16 C. Skies will remain mainly clear. Alpine winds will decrease to light and will switch to a more Westerly flow. We will see a gradual increase in temperature over the next week.

Snowpack Summary

Winds have created small slabs in lee areas of the alpine, and wind effect in open alpine and treeline areas. The surface snow is facetting quickly and beginning to sluff more easily in steep terrain. A facet layer from Jan 27th is present at treeline and in the alpine down 30-40cm. On steep south this layer may consist of a thin sun crust as well.

Avalanche Summary

Increased winds saw some loose dry activity in steep alpine terrain on Mt. Stephen. Cornice failures have been observed over the past few days, which have pulled small wind slabs below. A size 2to 2.5 on Mt. Carnarvon was reported to have occurred over the last 24 hours, but it is unsure what the trigger was.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New wind slabs have formed over the last 24 hours. These are generally small in size but would be of concern in steep alpine features. New cornices have been failing and observed to pull wind slabs below.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

As the surface snow facets and weakens, it is starting to sluff more easily in steep terrain. This is mostly a problem in narrow confined terrain like gullies or couloirs.

  • Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain.
  • On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 14th, 2021 4:00PM