Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 25th, 2013 4:06PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The hazard is still elevated W of the divide, where fresh wind slabs are sitting over hard surfaces in the alpine.SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

Moderate NW winds Saturday and valley bottom freezing levels.Â Only a trace of snow expected tomorrow throughout the forecast region.Â Another pulse of snow is currently being forecast starting midday Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm in last 48 hrs along and W of the divide, with lesser amounts to the E.Â Soft wind slabs are sitting on previous hard wind slabs in the alpine.Â Mainly facetted midpack in thin snowpack areas.Â Jan 6 surface hoar can be found in various locations down approx.30 cm producing mod. compression results in the sunshine study plot today.

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine village saw ski cutting on reloaded bed surfaces today to size 1 in isolated alpine features.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations on Friday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Soft wind slabs up to 40cm thick have formed mainly along and W of the divide in exposed terrain. Areas E of the divide have seen light snow and only very thin slab formation. Watch for the bond between these slabs and the hard surfaces below.

Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 2

Persistent Slabs

These hard slabs have been unreactive in the last few days. Triggering is still possible from thin snowpack areas in steep terrain where these sit over facets.

Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 26th, 2013 4:00PM