Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 22nd, 2019 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.

Conrad Janzen, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

A bit of new snow overnight will help refresh the skiing. Things are pretty good overall, but keep watching for small wind slabs and sluffing in steep terrain, especially if skiing or climbing in confined terrain or steep gullies.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Up to 5 cm of snow is expected on Friday night with moderate W winds. Flurries will persist on Saturday with light winds out of the N and E and temperatures in the -10 to -15 C range. Sunday looks sunny and cold.

Snowpack Summary

At treeline and above a mix of powder, weak surface facets, wind slab, and some sun crust, can be found over a supportive mid-pack. In isolated areas at treeline and below the Jan 17 surface hoar can be found down 30-60 cm, and is producing hard but sudden test results. Weak basal facets can be found in thinner snow pack areas.

Avalanche Summary

Small thin natural wind slabs and loose dry avalanches up to size 2 have been observed out of very steep alpine terrain over the past couple days with loose dry avalanches running down into treeline. Skier triggered loose dry sluffing of the surface facets has also been observed in steep terrain at all elevations up to size 1.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

A mix of new wind slabs and old buried slabs have been found on various aspects that continue to be worth watching for in steep terrain.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Variable winds may create pockets of wind slab in some unexpected locations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

A sustained period of cold weather has created weak, dry, faceted surface snow. In steep terrain, these facets are sensitive to small natural and human triggers and can quickly gain enough mass to affect skiers and climbers, especially in gullies.

Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Good group management is essential to manage current conditions safely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 23rd, 2019 4:00PM