Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 14th, 2019 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Windslab formation is expected to begin with the new snow tomorrow. Open, lee ridgecests should be suspect. New snow should make skiing excellent.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Daytime temperatures will range from -20 to -10. Some snow (5-15cm) is forecast with moderate winds. We will likely see windslabs form in open areas, in the lee of ridgecrests.

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of new snow overlies low density facets that formed near the surface during the current cold spell. These surface conditions can produce dry loose avalanches in steep places, but slab formation has been minimal. The distribution of the Jan 17 SH is spotty, but in some areas (Kootenay) it appears prominent; strength tests are hard & sudden

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

We expect the odd windslab to rear its head in steep, alpine terrain. Pay particular attention to this if you are in any terrain with consequence below you such as cliffs or other terrain traps.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

Consistent cold temperatures have faceted the upper snowpack. In steep alpine features loose surface snow can easily entrain mass causing small avalanches. Thin steep rocky terrain is the prime candidate for this problem.

Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain..

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1

Valid until: Feb 15th, 2019 4:00PM