Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 5th, 2018–Feb 6th, 2018

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high

Below Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be high

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high

Below Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be high

Regions: Little Yoho.

Conditions are touchy right now. Somewhere between High and Considerable and forecasters are debating which category they fall into. Regardless, it is a good time to stay out of avalanche terrain!

Weather Forecast

Tuesday should be mostly clear with light winds. The next storm is moving in Wednesday/ Thursday with 20-30 cm 's of snow, rising temps and strong west winds. We expect the danger to rise significantly at that time.

Snowpack Summary

20 - 30 cm of low density snow with little wind sits on the surface. The main concern in the snowpack lurks below and continues to be the 3 persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets that are found between 50 and 100cm down. We continue to observe sudden test results, whumphing and large propagations on these layers.

Avalanche Summary

Forecasters remote triggered a size 2.5 today on the Icefields Parkway

. They triggered it from ~ 50m away on a low angle ridge. The slide was ~ 300m wide, 80 cm deep and slid on a well preserved surface hoar layer (Jan. 6th). A solo skiier in the Lake Louise backcountry had a very close call today when he triggered a size 2 and was partially buried

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Wednesday

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Three weak layers exist in the upper 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. Natural activity is tapering, but it is still primed for human triggering.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5

Storm Slabs

20-40cm of recent storm snow (and wind) has developed a reactive slab at higher elevations. If triggered, this an avalanche on this layer will certainly step down to the deeper weak layers.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5