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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2017–Mar 3rd, 2017

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

A short intense storm is currently forecast for Friday which will likely cause an avalanche cycle.  Climbers should limit overhead exposure in gully features as natural avalanches initiated up high have potential to reach below treeline. 

Weather Forecast

A 24 hour long system will roll into the region Friday AM with 3000m winds up to 100kmh, 2000m winds around 40kmh and 20-30cm of snow. Temperatures will be around -10C in the alpine and -3 to -5C at 2000m. Winds will die down and temperatures will cool off Saturday and Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

30cm of soft snow overlies a well-settled and firm middle of the snowpack. Near treeline, concern remains for a facetted layer that sits in the lower third of the snowpack, and an old surface hoar layer down about 50-70 cm that has recently produced sudden planar shears. Deeper snowpacks to the west of the Wapta Icefields have the strongest snow.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed or reported on Wednesday.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.