Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2015 4:18PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The natural cycle is tapering, but human triggering is still possible.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Clear skies on Wednesday will be followed by a weak system on thursday which will produce very light precipitation. Wind will remain light from the West. These inputs will produce little change in the danger rating.

Snowpack Summary

Some wind effect in open areas above tree line. Temperature crust present below 1800m. 60-70cm of well settled snow from recent storms and warm temperatures sits over weak facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported today. However, forecasters conducted a fracture line profile at the avalanche that occurred on Sunday that was posted to our facebook page. Here is the link to see this profile.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The base of the snowpack remains weak due to the presence of basal depth hoar and facets. Natural activity is tapering off, however human triggering is still likely on this layer.

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: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Winds from both the SW and NW have formed fresh wind slabs in open areas above tree line. These are settling out but can still be triggered and may step down to the basal weak layers.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 18th, 2015 4:00PM