Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 14th, 2016 4:03PM

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

ian jackson, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Heads up to folks skiing the steep burns in Kootenay! The dry facets are easily triggered and although relatively small volume, they are running fast and far! This has not been as much of a problem in the rest of the forecast region.

Summary

Weather Forecast

We are under a benign weather pattern for Friday and Saturday, with mild temperatures, light W/NW winds and broken skies. A few systems are moving in off the coast and will start to affect us on Saturday PM with some light precipitation and more of a SW flow.

Snowpack Summary

In general there is 10-15 cm over the Jan 6 combination of surface hoar, facets and sun crust depending on aspect and elevation. Moderate to strong winds have formed small wind slabs in the upper alpine and can be found on most aspects. The snowpack is facetting but still supportive in deeper areas (> 1m snowpack)

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today. However, over the last few days there have been some small windslabs reported, primarily in south facing alpine terrain where a buried suncrust is present. As well, facet avalanches in steep terrain are running far when initiated at all elevations.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Loose Dry

New snow and surface facets will sluff easily in very steep terrain. Skiers remember to manage the sluffs, and ice climbers watch you don't get knocked off your feet. Below treeline facet sluffs will be most prevalent in steep areas such as Kootenay.

Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

New snow with mod-strong west winds have produced small, soft windslabs in the alpine. They are settling out with the mild temperatures and light winds, but have been most reactive on S/SW aspects where they overly a buried suncrust.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 15th, 2016 4:00PM