Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 10th, 2018 4:21PM

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

Lisa Paulson, Parks Canada

Little Yoho.

Watch for new windslab development from the Yoho Blow and overnight SW wind. Surface failures may be enough to trigger the Dec 15 layer lower down.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Another cold day tomorrow with moderate to strong SW wind overnight. Winds should taper through the day Thursday then pick up again Friday as the high pressure ridge starts to rebuild over area. Temperatures warmer by the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

40-50 cm of snow sits over the Dec 15 layer which consists of surface hoar, sun crust, or facets depending on location. Easy - mod shears found on this layer. Below this the snowpack is heavily faceted with remnants of older crust's still lingering throughout, but no significant shears found in the lower pack. Some isolated windslabs near ridgetop.

Avalanche Summary

A few new loose snow avalanches were observed to size 2 near the Mt. Dennis Ice Climbs. A size 2.5 observed off Mt. Stephen, likely a windslab resulting from the strong Yoho Blow outflow wind, but the fracture line was obscured.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent snow is being moved around by the SW winds and forming fresh wind slabs in lee alpine areas. These slabs can fail on the the Dec 15 layer which is producing easy to moderate shears.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Loose dry surface snow avalanches will continue to be a problem in steep rocky areas and gullies.

The volume of sluffing could knock you over; choose your climb carefully and belay when exposed.On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 11th, 2018 4:00PM