Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 10th, 2014 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

New snow, strong winds and a weak base in the snowpack mean that this weekend is a good time to stay out of avalanche terrain! Enjoy the fresh snow. CJ

Summary

Weather Forecast

A strong pacific system is forecast to arrive tonight with moderate to strong W winds and temperatures between -5'C and -10'C. 15-25cm of new snow is expected by Saturday night with an additional 5-10cm each day through Monday.

Snowpack Summary

5cm new snow and gusty SW winds up high today.Â East of the divide a weak mid pack sits over an even weaker basal facet layer with moderate sudden collapse results in the basal facets. West of the divide the snowpack is deeper and more supportive but the weak basal facets remain the main concern.

Avalanche Summary

While no new avalanche activity has been observed over the past 48hrs, whumphing on lower angled terrain indicates the continued potential for skier triggered slab avalanches on the basal facets.Â Expect increased avalanche activity to begin with the arrival of the new snow tonight!

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The forecast snow this weekend may be enough to overload the basal facets in many areas with potential for large slab avalanches. Stick to well supported, planar terrain below 30 degrees and minimize exposure to start zones.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.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

Wind slabs will build quickly over the weekend. Expect sluffing in steep alpine terrain and avoid steep lee loaded features. Triggering a wind slab may also cause it to step down to the basal facets resulting in a larger than expected avalanche.

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

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 11th, 2014 4:00PM