Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 22 – 23, 2012Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Excellent ski quality in sheltered features.  Watch for new wind slabs at treeline and above. SH

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Wind slabs 20-50cm thick in wind exposed areas from recent SW winds. These seem to be isolated to the lees of terrain features and ridge crests.  Reports are finding these wind slabs to be sitting on a thin layer of facets formed in early Dec.

Weather Forecast

Trace to 5cm snow Saturday with L South winds in the alpine and continued cool temperatures.  Sunday may see some increased winds and light snow accumulations.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slabs 20-50cm thick (4finger-1finger stiffness) on wind exposed treeline and alpine lee slopes formed by SW winds in last 48 hours. Mainly sitting on a thin layer of facets but isolated in nature. Well settled midpack in thicker snowpack areas, Nov 6 crust facetting in thinner areas.  Low density powder below treeline.

Avalanche Summary

2 size 3 naturals on the N. face of Mt. Victoria within the last 24 hours, initiating at 3000-3300m  It is suspected wind loading caused the snowpack to fail on glacial ice or old firn snow,  No other avalanches of this magnitude observed or reported.  Size 1-1.5 skier controlled avalanches reported at Sunshine ski area limited to ridge crests.

Confidence

on Saturday

Regions covered