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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2022–Feb 18th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Looks like a reset for the ski conditions thankfully, with 10-20 cm of new snow across the region. But, the wind has been strong for the past 24-hrs also, and we expect soft, small but easily triggered windslabs in most leeward areas.

Weather Forecast

A NW flow over the region will continue to bring snow, wind and warm temperatures over the next few days. Expect another 5 cm for Friday with freezing levels potentially reaching 1700 m. Then another 5 cm for Saturday. Weather patterns change again starting Sunday when the temperature begins to plummet.

Snowpack Summary

15-20 cm of new snow has fallen in the past 24-hrs with strong winds creating fresh, sensitive windslabs at treeline and above. Areas to the west received the most snow. These slabs may be small, but will release easily on firm surfaces underneath. The Jan 30th surface hoar/ sun crust interface exists 30-40 cm below the surface and is unreactive.

Avalanche Summary

Soft windslabs up to size 1 were reported by both SSV and LL ski resorts on Thursday, fracture depths to a maximum of 30 cm. Additionally, extensive sluffing was observed through the mist in steeper terrain near Yoho.

Confidence

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.

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.