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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 5th, 2015–Jan 6th, 2015

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Little Yoho.

30-40 cm of new snow is forecast for the next 36-hours, along with rising temperatures and strong alpine winds. A dangerous weak layer is now buried 50-70 cm below the surface. This is the recipe for an avalanche cycle. Avoid avalanche terrain.

Weather Forecast

A strong system embedded in a NW flow will cross the region starting Monday evening and tapering by Tuesday evening.  Expect 30-40 cm of snow and rising temperatures and strong winds at higher elevations. Clearing behind the storm begins on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 50 cm of storm snow exists at higher elevations, sitting atop a weak layer of surface hoar and facets now buried anywhere from 50-70cm below the surface. Storm slabs resulting from Monday night's snowfall are likely, as well as large and dangerous avalanches running on this buried weak layer. Human triggering is likely.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported yet, but extensive avalanche activity has been reported to the west, which is a good indication of what to expect in the Little Yoho region.

Confidence

Problems

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.