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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 24th, 2013–Jan 25th, 2013
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
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.

New snow West of the divide has freshened up the skiing.  Previous winds have scoured winward slopes down to bare rock in many areas.SH

Weather Forecast

Another 5cm by Friday afternoon with mainly mod-strong alpine West winds.  Alpine temperatures should stay in the -10C range for Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Lake Ohara region today, 15-20cm in last 24 hrs with mod-strong ridge winds creating soft wind slabs in exposed features.  2450m ~170cm on Opabin glacier.  Most new along and W of divide.  Variable hard slabs from previous strong winds now mainly buried.  In thinner snowpack areas and below treeline midpack facetted and weake.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity today except for sloughing out of climbing terrain.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations on Thursday

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Soft wind slabs up to 30cm thick have formed mainly along and W of the divide. Expect to find these near ridge top which may not bond well in the short term to hard slabs below.
The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Hard slabs are possible to trigger from thinner snowpack areas on facets in steeper terrain.  These have been mainly unreactive in the last 48 hours but are still a concern.
Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2