Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Strong winds and new snow forecast for Thursday. Pay attention to changing conditions.
Weather Forecast
Strong westerly winds, freezing levels up to 1900 m, and 10-15 cm of new snow forecast for Thursday. Friday will bring cooling temperatures, light winds, and isolated flurries.
Snowpack Summary
30-50 cm of new snow overlies the January 6 weak layer which is surface hoar between 1500 and 2000 m and facets above this. Natural and explosive triggered avalanches have been observed on this layer in the past 48 hours. Strong westerly winds on Wednesday night have created fresh wind slabs at and above treeline. A rain crust exists below 1500 m
Avalanche Summary
Fresh avalanches in the alpine (up to size 2.5) have been observed in the Field and Emerald Lake area.
Monday's avalanche control work in Kootenay resulted in widespread avalanches between size 2 and 3 with fracture lines ranging from 25-50 cm deep failing on the Jan 6th layer of surface hoar and facets.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
With the incoming wind and precipitation, we can expect touchy conditions on lee features at treeline and above. These windslabs may trigger deeper persistent layers resulting in a larger avalanche.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Persistent Slabs
The new snow is settling into a 30- 50 cm slab above the Jan. 6th surface hoar and facet layer. This layer is surface hoar between 1500 and 2000m and facets at higher elevations. Pit test indicate that this layer is reactive to skier triggering.
- Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3