Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 23rd, 2017 4:50PM
The alpine rating is Deep Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeThe natural avalanche cycle has abated, but human triggered avalanches are still possible. Current conditions are difficult to predict and a wide margin of safety is required.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday will be mostly cloudy with only isolated flurries. Daytime highs of -12 in the alpine and the freezing levels will be near valley bottom. Winds will be mostly light.
Snowpack Summary
There is 20-30 cm of low density storm snow (with very little wind effect) at treeline. Common through the area are the weak facets in the lower half of the snowpack, particularly at lower elevations and east of the divide. Surface hoar was observed on the surface on Thursday and there is a thin rain-crust below the storm snow at lower elevations
Avalanche Summary
There was good visibility today and theĀ field team observed evidence of cycle from the past week including a number of skier triggered and natural avalanches around Lake Louise Ski Area and along the east side of the Banff Jasper Highway. No fresh avalanches reported in past 24 hours.
Confidence
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
There is a thick slab over a structurally weak snowpack in most areas. Likely areas of triggering are in thin parts of a slope or rocky outcrops at tree line and above. A failure can propagate to deeper areas and cause large avalanches.
Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 24th, 2017 4:00PM