Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 16th, 2018 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Despite the strong feel to the upper snowpack, the threat of large avalanches remains a concern. Please continue to play safe.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Gradual cooling trend through the weekend. Light precipitation is expected tonight with accumulated amounts of 5cm by Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs are common in open areas with loading on easterly aspects. Commonly, a deep slab overlies midpack weaknesses of surface hoar, crusts, and facets. The depth of these slabs varies from 75 cm to 150 cm. These layers have been producing very large avalanches over the past week.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches activity observed Friday. Reports of small skier triggered wind slabs, isolated to ridge crest were noted by ski patrol.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

A 100-125cm dense slab of snow overlies three weak layers in the mid snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on the aspect and elevation.

Avoid all avalanche terrain.Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Wind Slabs

Strong winds Thursday night created widespread wind effect in most areas above treeline. Hard wind slabs exist in the alpine lees.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 17th, 2018 4:00PM