Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 29th, 2013 4:00PM

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

Grant Statham, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The snowpack is structurally weak, and avalanches can be triggered from random areas on steep slopes. Allow room in your decision making for this uncertainty by minimizing exposure to avalanche starting zones. Be patient, the snowpack will improve.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Systems embedded in a NW flow will continue to cross the region for the next few days. Expect 5-10 cm of new snow on Monday, temperatures ranging from -5 to -10 and strong NW winds.

Snowpack Summary

At Bow Summit, 13 cm of recent storm snow is being blown into soft slabs at higher elevations where the wind is effecting the snow. The total snowpack depth is 73 cm and comprised mostly of facets and depth hoar. This is a structurally weak snowpack that needs time and more snow in order to gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1) soft slab avalanches were observed in the Sunshine Village area today. No larger avalanches were reported or observed.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Local avalanche forecasters are concerned about this problem, and are calling it a "lurking beast". Deep slabs that are hard to trigger, but the consequences getting caught are dire. Manage your risk by minimizing exposure to avalanche start zones.

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

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

This problem is mostly small surface slabs formed from recent new snow and strong winds. Above 2400 meters one should expect windslabs in most areas. Locate these windslabs by monitoring the density of the surface snow as you travel through terrain.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 30th, 2013 4:00PM