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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 13th, 2013–Dec 14th, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Light snowfalls and strong winds will slowly push the avalanche danger upwards over the next few days. JBW

Weather Forecast

Another fairly strong pacific storm in a north-westerly flow will bring snow to the Columbias and westerly slopes of the Rockies but only light snow with strong winds to most of the forecast area.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm new over the past 24 hrs with moderate westerlies have created some touchy thin new wind slabs at treeline and above. The base remains weak with depth hoar and isolated crust near the ground. Drib and drab storm snow combined with wind will be enough to create some natural avalanche activity on steep lee features.

Avalanche Summary

A few thin windslabs have been reported by ski hill avalanche teams. in addition, a natural avalanche ran over a climbing party on Polar Circus yesterday in a near miss with no injuries.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.