Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 15th, 2016 6:37PM

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

brian webster, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Winds are expected to pick up on Friday. Watch for fresh windslabs.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Continued cold temperatures (with a slight temperature inversion) through to Saturday with a slight warming trend starting Sunday. Winds are forecasted to increase on Friday and becoming strong from the north-west on Saturday. Light amounts of snow forecast starting Saturday night.

Snowpack Summary

With exception of deeper snowpack areas (along and west of Divide) the snowpack is almost entirely faceted. There is very little cohesion in upper 30 cm, resulting in significant sluffing in steep terrain. The Nov 12 crust (~40 cm above ground) is still a significant layer in the snow pack. Pay attention to this layer after the next snowfall.

Avalanche Summary

No significant slab avalanches have been reported or observed in the past week. Loose snow avalanches (up to size 1.5) are occurring out of steeper terrain.

Confidence

Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Friday

Problems

Loose Dry

The surface snow is facetted and weak, resulting in large sluffs in steep terrain. Sluffs are picking up mass and running fairly far. Pay attention to terrain traps where snow can accumulate into deeper deposits.

Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Forecasted winds for Friday and Saturday may create fresh wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 16th, 2016 4:00PM