Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2017 4:39PM

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

brian webster, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The weak and facetted mid-pack that prevails in most areas warrants conservative route choices, especially in the alpine.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Wednesday will be mainly cloudy with day-time highs in the alpine around -10. Winds are forecast to be light and freezing levels will be near the surface. Little change is expected through Friday.

Snowpack Summary

20-40 cm of settledÂ snow overrides a generally weak and facetted mid-pack and base. Closer to the divide, and in deeper snowpack areas the midpack is more supportive. Some lingering windslabs may exist in the alpine. Surface hoar (up to 10 mm) was noted in the alpine around Sunshine today.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control in Yoho Park on Monday produced numerous size 2 -2.5 avalanches on Mt. Dennis. One size 3 avalanche on Mt Bosworth. These were storm slabs or wind slabs that stepped down into a lower facet layer.Report of several size 2 avalanches in Bow Summit area. These were in the alpine on south /south west aspects and ran in past 72 hours.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The midpack in most areas is weak and facetted. Any slab sitting overtop of this weakness should be considered suspect. There is a high level of uncertainty and variability concerning this layer.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2017 4:00PM