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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 15th, 2022–Jan 16th, 2022

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

There have been many close calls with avalanches this week.

The avalanche danger remains elevated, please plan your objective accordingly.

Weather Forecast

The Westerly flow will gradually weaken through the beginning of the week. Winds for Sunday and Monday will remain in the strong range at ridge top. Temperatures will stay warm with freezing levels near valley bottom. Forecasted precipe values range from 10cm to 20cm . We should see a sharp change Tuesday as cold, clear, calm weather arrives.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of settled storm snow with strong to extreme winds has added to windslabs at treeline and above. These overlie facets in many places. The Dec. 2 crust and facets are anywhere from 130cm deep in the snowpack in thicker parts, and half that depth in thinner snowpack areas such as Mt. Stephen and Mt. Dennis.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday Parks Canada VS responded to a natural avalanche on Mt Stephen that deposited a significant amount of snow on a train line and trapped a train in the debris pile. Avalanche control on Friday produced numerus results to sz 2.5, triggering both wind slabs and persistent slabs.

Confidence

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.