Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Numerous close calls in our neighboring bulletin region over the last week. The persistent nature of the Jan 6th layer will be a problem for us for a while. Have patience and stick to conservative terrain for a while until the snowpack settles out!
Weather Forecast
The jet stream is over us so expect to get regular snow throughout the week. We should get 5-10 cms Monday night with a clearing trend Tuesday. The next storm will come in on Wed around noon and we should see 5-10 cms into Thursday. Freezing levels will remain around 1200m with a slight warming trend on Wed. Alpine winds will be moderate W/SW.
Snowpack Summary
Fresh windslab and cornice growth is occurring with 15- 40 cm of recent snow and moderate to strong west winds. A 50-100 cm slab overlies the January 6th weak layer of surface hoar (below 2000m), facets and sun crust. This layer is quite well preserved in many locations. The lower part of the snowpack is generally well settled.
Avalanche Summary
Although no observations from Little Yoho, many close calls in the Rockies in the last week. On Monday, 2 climbers triggered a size 2 slab on the approach to "Nightmare on Wolf Street" on the Stanley Headwall. This failed on the ground. Last Friday, a group of 8 triggered a size 2 just left of the regular final approach slope to Bow Hut
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
60-100 cms of snow overlies the Jan 6th layer of surface hoar, sun crust and facets and there have been numerous avalanches and close calls on this layer over the last week. Snowpack tests are giving moderate to hard sudden results on this layer.
- Avoid paths that have not avalanched recently.
- Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Wind Slabs
Be mindful of cross loaded features and the lees of ridges where fresh windslabs 10-40 cm thick have recently formed. If triggered, there is potential to step down to the persistent weak layer and to ground in thin areas.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2