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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 21st, 2021–Feb 22nd, 2021

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Warm temperatures, strong wind and snow will combine to start an avalanche cycle overnight Sunday through until end of day on Monday. A good time to step back.

Weather Forecast

Warm temperatures (zero at the valley) will persist into Monday. Snow will start in earnest Sunday night and will deposit up to 25cm near Emerald Lake by the end of Monday. Wind will remain in the strong to extreme range until late Monday night. The weather forecast has all of the ingredients for an avalanche cycle.

Snowpack Summary

Extensive wind effect and isolated, thin wind-slabs throughout the alpine from extreme wind on Sunday. Approximately 40cm of recent storm snow is present at tree line tapering down to 15cm below tree line. A facet and sun crust layer buried Jan 27 persists at treeline down 30-40 cm.

Avalanche Summary

Loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5 out steep cliffy terrain in Little Yoho today. Despite strong to extreme wind few wind slabs were observed. Additionally, loose dry avalanches to size one were running over many of the steep ice climbs on Mt. Dennis.

Confidence

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

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.