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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 12th, 2020–Feb 13th, 2020
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
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
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

Regions: Little Yoho.

Ski quality is excellent in Little Yoho and we have no reports of natural avalanches. Ice climbers minimize your exposure time by traveling quickly and getting out of the way as soon as possible. Winds come up on Thurs afternoon, so be done early.

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will keep the weather over our region mostly fine for Thursday with just a trace of snow here and there and temps ranging from -7 to -12. The wind comes up again on Thursday afternoon/evening, forecast to reach 100 km/hr. 5 cm per day expected for Friday and Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of dry snow over the past 24-hours brings the 7-day storm total to 25-40cm across the region. Light winds today kept the surface soft, but strong winds on Tues may have left some wind slab in high alpine areas. In the dry parts of the region we remain concerned about the facetted weakness deep in the snowpack; deep snowpack areas are strong.

Avalanche Summary

We were surprised by the lack of wind slab activity reported on Wednesday, considering the extreme winds on Tuesday - however we have no observations from the high alpine. The ski area teams today reported numerous size 1 loose dry sluffs running quite far.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

We expect these in the very high alpine (~3000 m) and they could be buried under new snow. Unlikely to release naturally unless triggered by sun or more wind, but human triggering is possible if you find one. Feel for density changes underfoot.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem is not found is most of the Little Yoho region (Mt. Field, Little Yoho Valley), but we remain concerned about it in shallow areas such as Mt Dennis, Mt Stephen and perhaps even Emerald Lake were we have no recent observations.

  • Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5