Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 26 – 27, 2015Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Boxing Day specials on great skiing and Low hazard!Continue to evaluate steep alpine terrain for small wind slabs that are beginning to form.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Some thin, isolated winds slabs are beginning to form in leeward areas near ridge crests as the winds increase. Keep an eye out for these spots when entering steep terrain. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2
    The slab above the Dec 3 surface hoar layer has not been very reactive recently. Snow pack tests produce shears in the moderate to hard range. This is mostly a concern in areas near the divide with a deeper snowpack and more snow over the weakness.

Weather Forecast

A high pressure system continues to hold bringing cool and stable weather with no new snow in the forecast until at least the 27th. Upper elevation Westerly winds will increase through Saturday. Tree line temperatures should stay between -10 and -16'C.

Snowpack Summary

A well settled snowpack with few weaknesses exists throughout the region. Some small isolated wind slabs exist on leeward slopes in the high alpine. Below 2000m the Dec 3 layer of surface hoar remains visible and produces hard, planar test results in some areas. This weakness is strengthening. Thin snow pack areas are beginning to facet out.

Avalanche Summary

One new natural slab avalanche was observed on a steep N facing hanging snowfield on White Pyramid, 15-20m wide and about 1m deep, possibly cornice triggered. Some sluffing has been observed in really steep terrain due to the increasing winds moving the low density surface snow .

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered