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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 21st, 2013–Dec 22nd, 2013

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

A weak, early season snowpack dominates the forecast area, and will for the foreseeable future. It's possible to trigger full depth avalanches right now. The snow quality is excellent, with 20 cm of dry powder on most slopes at treeline. GS

Weather Forecast

A NW flow persists over the region with no significant systems expected in the next 24-hours. A trace of snow is expected by Sunday morning, followed by clearing and light NW winds with temperatures ranging from -10 to -20.

Snowpack Summary

20 cm of loose, dry snow sits on top of a generally weak snowpack. The total snowpack depths range from 60-100 cm at treeline, with the deeper snow located on the western side of the forecast region. In the Lake Louise to Bow Summit region, the lower half of the snowpack is weak depth hoar and avalanches are likely in steep, open slopes.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed today.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

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.