Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 2nd, 2017 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.

Lisa Paulson, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We have little confidence in the weak snowpack. If there is a slab overlying facets, its suspect.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Lows of -25C rising to around -12C with sunny skies and very light SW wind for Friday morningÂ Cloud to roll in the afternoon with flurries starting in the evening.Â Â There is potential for significant snow through the weekend in some areas.Â Weather models are not in agreement and the brunt of the system may be to the South. Stay tunned....

Snowpack Summary

Previous strong to extreme W winds have created harder wind pressed surfaces at treeline and above. Isolated surface hoar may be found buried in sheltered locations at treeline and below. Generally the midpack is weak at TL and above, and the entire snowpack is weak BTL. Near the divide, deeper snow-packs are a bit stronger and more supportive.

Avalanche Summary

We had a small avalanche cycle this past weekend due to big winds, but as temperatures have cooled and winds abated, the activity has slowed down significantly. No new avalanches reported or observed Thursday.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The snowpack is weak. Slopes where a slab sits over the deeper weak layers should be treated as suspect. Until we get some rounding or compression, the snowpack is going to remain fragile to any input. Expect the hazard to rise with incoming snow.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2017 4:00PM