Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 19th, 2014 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.

Patrick Jerome, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The snowpack so far this year has had very little in the way of fundamental influences to change its structure. Consequently the overall strength of the snowpack at the base is poor at the moment in spite of the lack of natural avalanche activity.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A moderate SW flow will bring light snowfall and a relative warming trend in through Sunday and another disturbance will accompany a moderate snowfall early next week.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack at TL and in the alpine continues to exhibit poor structure in lower half of the snowpack, a settled mid pack and a variety of surfaces including crusts, wind slabs where the sun and wind had influence on it. In locations where the snow surfaces were sheltered the upper snowpack has facets and some surface hoar just buried near surface

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity although snowpack tests at treeline today did not inspire confidence in the mind set of today's avalanche forecaster.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Natural avalanche activity has subsided but snowpack tests show that the weak facets at the basal level continue to be the big issue. The slab that rests on this weak structure may indicate some strength in places but in fact very little has changed.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 20th, 2014 4:00PM