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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2022–Feb 19th, 2022

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

Little Yoho.

The amount of new snow we get will dictate how much the hazard rises on Saturday. Keep monitoring this through the day.

Avalanche control is planned for Mt Stephen and Mt Bosworth in Yoho NP on Saturday. No skiing or climbing in these areas.

Weather Forecast

A moist SW flow continues until late Saturday when a cold front arrives from the NW and temperatures start to fall. Most of the snow will be west of the divide with estimates ranging from 15-20+ cm by the end of the day and strong west winds. Treeline temperatures will stay near -5 C until the cold front arrives with freezing levels near 1700 m.

Snowpack Summary

20-45 cm of new snow has fallen in the past 48-hrs with strong west winds creating fresh wind slabs at treeline and above. Areas to the west received the most snow. These wind slabs may release easily on the various firm surfaces underneath. The Jan 30th surface hoar/sun crust interface exists 30-60 cm below the surface and is currently unreactive.

Avalanche Summary

Small wind slabs up to size 1 were reported by both SSV and LL ski resorts on Friday with ski cutting and explosive work. Small reactive wind slabs in steep terrain were reported by skiers in the Lake Louise area. Some natural sluffing up to size 1 was also observed out of steep gullies and rocky terrain in areas that got the most storm snow.

Confidence

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

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.