Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 16th, 2012 4:00PM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Two systems will give us small amounts of snow tonight and Saturday, slowly adding load to the Valentine's surface hoar. This layer is touchy, and one should use caution in areas of fresh wind slabs, particularly in the alpine.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Avalanche Summary

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

The 10-15cm of storm snow we received 3 days ago has formed small slabs in the immediate lee areas of ridges. These slabs are touchy as they lay on top of the Valentine's surface hoar. A skier-triggered sz 1.5 occurred near Quartz Ridge yesterday.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

Large cornices on lee (mostly easterly) aspects still loom high overhead. Several large cornice collapses have been observed over the past week. These cornices could be big enough to trigger a deep slab.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 17th, 2012 4:00PM