Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 9th, 2016–Feb 10th, 2016

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

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

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

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

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

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Warm temps will be back tomorrow. Pay attention to freezing levels. Hold the course and continue to make conservative terrain choices.

Weather Forecast

The freezing level is expected to rise to 1900m again tomorrow. Increasing cloudiness toward the end of the day. Alpine wind is expected to increase to roughly 50km an hour to ward the end of the day well.

Snowpack Summary

A 50-100 cm slab now overlies the January 6 weak layer of surface hoar, facets and sun crust and snowpack tests indicate an unstable bond between the two. Extreme warming and sunshine promoted rapid settlement and an avalanche cycle.

Avalanche Summary

Highway avalanche control conducted by Visitor Safety on the Sunshine road 93S produced several avalanches up to size 2.5. Typically, the avalanches were 40cm deep, 50m wide and 300m long. Evidence of a small natural cycle up to size 2.5 that was induced by temperatures up to 7 degrees in the alpine today as well.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

These large avalanches have potentially significant consequences. Warm temperature coinciding with steep and shallow ares are a combination to avoid tomorrow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Loose Wet

With freezing levels rising to 1900m tomorrow the possibility of loose wet avalanches still exists. These could potentially occur on steep south facing rocky terrain.

Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Windslabs still exist in the alpine on lee features to widespread wind affect from the weekend.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3