Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 2nd, 2022 4:54PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Ian Jackson,

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Incoming winds will raise the danger over the next couple days.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Thurs AM will start cold (-20 to -25), but then temps will warm to more seasonal levels. We are expecting light precip on Thurs with trace to 5 cms depending on the model. Friday will see slightly more precip with an additional 5-10 cms. Saturday will see only a trace amount of snow. Alpine winds will be strong to extreme from the W/NW throughout

Snowpack Summary

15-25 cm of snow on Sunday with moderate to strong W/NW winds have created soft windslabs in the alpine and isolated treeline areas. This sits on a variety of surfaces including sun crusts, faceted snow and isolated areas of surface hoar. The Dec 2 crust/facet layer is down 70-120 cm and has not been reactive in the last week.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed on a field trip on Wednesday in the Emerald Lake area. Local ski hills reporting only small soft windslab development in alpine and isolated treeline areas.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Elevated winds from the west and northwest over the next few days will blow the new light snow around. This combined with warmer temperatures has the potential to create new windslabs in areas exposed to the winds.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

This problem represents both the Dec. 2nd crust/ facet layer (treeline and below) and the late December facet layer. We have not seen any activity on this layer in the last 8 days

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2022 4:00PM