Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 27th, 2019 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.

stephen holeczi, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Thin and variable snowpack areas are of greatest concern for triggering the weaker basal facets.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cooling temperatures (lows -15C at 3000m, high -12C) for Monday and slightly warmer on Tuesday. The extreme winds have died down and will be light to moderate from the NW. No real snow is forecast for the next 48 hours.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of snow over the last week over isolated suncrusts and surface hoar. Widespread wind effect in the alpine. Of greatest concern are the weak facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack. In thinner snowpack areas with less than 150 cm of snow, triggering a slab on these facets is more likely.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The weak Oct.26 facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack have a significant slab (50-130cm thick) sitting above them. The likelihood of triggering this layer has decreased, but if it does get triggered, the avalanche will be large in size.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to weak layers at the base of the snowpack.Avoid thin, rocky or unsupported slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 28th, 2019 4:00PM