Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
There have been many different weather inputs over the past few days, and it will take a bit of time for things to settle down. The Mt. Stephen and Mt. Dennis avalanche closure areas will be CLOSED on Friday.
Weather Forecast
A bit of an inversion is setting up for Friday. Temperatures will stay below freezing (-5C to -2C) in the alpine with a mix of sun and cloud, and light to moderate NW winds. Friday night winds will turn west and blow over 100kmh, weakening over the day. The alpine will cool Saturday with temperatures in the -10 to -15C range, and -5C at 2000m.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 settled hst with wind over the past few days has added to windslabs at treeline and above. These overlie facets in many places. The Dec. 2 crust and facets are anywhere from 130cm deep in the snowpack in thicker parts, and half that depth in thinner snowpack areas such as Mt. Stephen and Mt. Dennis.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches were observed in the area on Thursday. Further East, a few larger avalanches on the Dec 2 crust and facets, as well as wind slabs have been triggered up to size 3. In Little Yoho, a few avalanches from previous days have us believing the Dec 2 is becoming active in thinner snowpack areas.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs are prevalent in the alpine and some treeline terrain. Some of these may be sitting over facets and easier to trigger. In thinner snowpack areas, these may initiate deeper layers which can run far.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
The midpack Dec. 2 crust and facets are likely only a problem in thinner areas such as Mt. Stephen and Mt. Dennis where the snowpack resembles ones further East. Thicker areas in the region have not seen any activity on this layer yet.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3