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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2022–Jan 21st, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Little Yoho.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=

Avalanche closures are in effect for Simpson Area (in Kootenay) and Sunshine Ski Area Access Road on Friday, Jan 21. Avalanche control planned, please no skiing of climbing in these areas.

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will move into the area on Friday. Scattered clouds and light snow are forecasted. There is potential for high freezing levels and lots of sunshine on the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Recent wind and new snow have created fresh wind slabs in the alpine and some tree-line areas. New snow and windslabs overlie facets in many places resulting in wide propagations in recent avalanches. The Dec. 2 crust and facets are generally 100-150cm deep producing hard to no results. Snow depth at tree-line is around 200-250 cm.

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine reported fresh windslabs in the alpine that were easily triggered by skiers. Avalanche control in Yoho Tuesday produced slabs with every shot. Most were failing on a windslab or facet layer 40-60cm deep and then entraining facets in the track. One stepped down to the November facets ~ 180 cm deep.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Saturday

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.