Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 20th, 2017–Jan 21st, 2017

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The long cold snap has left a weak snowpack that is not healing. Conservative route selection will be required into the foreseeable future.

Weather Forecast

Moderately cold weather with sun and flurries is forecast. While this is great for touring, it is unlikely to strengthen our weak snowpack in the short term.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is quite localized. 10-40 cm of storm snow (often windslab) rests on weak facets. Deeper layers of weak facets and depth hoar are common. A supportive midpack can be found, but it is often friable and may contribute to deeper failures. avalanches were reported today butLower elevations have unsupportive bottomless facets.

Avalanche Summary

Several size 2 avalanches were reported in the Banff area today. Recent reports of human involvement would indicate the need for continued caution.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The midpack in most areas is weak and facetted. Any slab sitting overtop of this weakness should be considered suspect and there is a high level of uncertainty around this layer.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Recent winds ranging from East to SW have created some new windslabs in alpine and treeline features. In some cases, these have been observed to provide enough weight to step down to the deep persistent layer, causing a larger avalanche.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2