Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 11th, 2022–Feb 12th, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Watch for solar crusts, may affect ski quality on South aspects. Clear skies and continued solar input will keep the hazard elevated for the next couple of days up high.

Weather Forecast

The upper ridge will continue top build tonight and through tomorrow, this will bring seasonable temperatures and clear skies for the next couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

Extensive wind effect in exposed areas above treeline, with wind slabs in lee areas at treeline and in the alpine. Jan 30 surface hoar and sun crust is down 20-30 cm and is still reactive in tests. Crusts can be found too 2000m, above this crusts continue on solar aspects. Shallow snowpack areas remain weak and faceted.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches reported or observed

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

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.