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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 26th, 2021–Feb 27th, 2021

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

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We have some uncertainty as to how well the recent storm snow is bonding to the previous facets in some areas. Do some investigation before committing to steeper or larger terrain features. New snow sluffing in steep terrain is also a concern.

Weather Forecast

Alpine winds will start off light on Saturday and start rising later in the afternoon into the moderate range as they shift to the NW. Temperatures will remain cool with treeline values between -10 to -15 Celsius. A few flurries are expected but no significant accumulations, and there may be some sunny breaks in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of new snow on Friday. Recent snow and wind have created wind slabs in alpine lee areas and exposed treeline slopes. In thin snowpack areas the recent 30-50 cm of storm snow sits over weaker facet interfaces which fail more easily in tests. In deeper snowpack areas there was less facetting, and the recent storm snow is bonding better.

Avalanche Summary

Ski hills reported some small wind slabs up to size 1.5 in lee areas of the alpine with ski cutting and explosives. Investigation of a recent skier triggered size 2 avalanche on Wolverine Ridge by Lake Louise, in an area with a total snowpack of 80 cm, showed a failure on weak facets below the recent snow that then stepped down to the basal facets.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.