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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 14th, 2019–Dec 15th, 2019
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Basal facets, crusts and depth hoar are found in many places. Use caution if you're heading into committing terrain, as it's a bit of a gamble whether you will trigger a slope, these layers are hard to predict.

Weather Forecast

The light Northwesterly flow will bring slightly coolers temps and start a clearing trend. We will see a mix of sun and cloud on Sunday and an alpine high of -14 with light westerly winds. Expect short periods of snow flurries, but no significant snow accumulations until midweek.

Snowpack Summary

Pockets of wind slab linger in alpine areas. Beneath the recent 40-60 cm of storm snow, the snowpack structure is generally weak, consisting of facets and depth hoar. The Nov crust is present up to 2500m and ~30 cm up from ground. Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80-160 cm.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity for the past two days, though explosive avalanche control at the local ski areas have produced results up to size 2 recently, with some stepping down to the Nov crust layer.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The recent snow sits over weak facet and crust layers. As time goes on the chance of triggering is becoming less likely, but there is lots of uncertainty as to where you could trigger an avalanche and what it will take to get it moving.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Variable wind slab development from two days ago persists, mainly in the alpine but also in some wind exposed treeline features. These are losing sensitivity to human triggering but will need a few days to settle out completely.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created slabs over weaker snow.
  • Caution on open steep slopes at treeline that have been exposed to wind loading.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2