Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 17th, 2014 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is high. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=15678&oPark=100092A deep natural and human induced avalanche cycle continues. An increase in avalanches is expected Saturday with warming and increased sun. Watch for overhead hazard. Please avoid all avalanche terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A warming trend and increased sunshine on Saturday will likely trigger natural avalanches. Sudden loading of solar avalanches on deep instabilities may trigger large slab avalanches. Forecasted cooling on Sunday is expected to reduce the natural avalanche hazard but human triggered avalanches will still be likely.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds have created widespread windslabs on lee aspects (N-SE) and stripped all the snow off windward aspects in the alpine and near treeline. It will be take a while for these basal weaknesses to strengthen. Conditions remain prime for human triggering.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control yesterday on Bourgeau and Vermillion produced several large avalanches up to size 3.5. Impressive propagations up to 500 m and crowns as deep as 2 m. The avalanche cycle continued today with small to large fresh avalanches reported.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Watch for daytime warming and areas receiving large amounts of sun. avalanches may run full path and affect valley bottoms and trails crossing avalanche runouts.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.Avoid exposure to sun exposed slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 18th, 2014 4:00PM