Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2017 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, 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.

Windslabs on deep facets will continue to be a problem for a while. Watch stomping up big slopes as conditions will be variable. Rocks are making their return.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cold temperatures and flurries are forecast.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm of facetting storm snow sits over top of the Dec 19 layer facet layer which in turn sits on the Nov 12 raincrust. Winds over the past week have created wind slabs in exposed areas. In many places these wind slabs sit on a weak snowpack comprised of facets and depth hoar.

Avalanche Summary

Some small loose dry avalanches were noted on 93N.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs up to 40 cm thick exist in the alpine and some treeline locations. Even a small wind slab has the potential to step down into the weak facetted mid-pack resulting in a bigger avalanche.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The mid and lower pack is weak and facetted, and will remain this way for the foreseeable future. This layer is most concerning in areas where a cohesive slab overlies this weak foundation.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2017 4:00PM