Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Feb 18 – 19, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Deep lingering instabilities continue in the area. Despite the strong post-storm feel to the upper snowpack, the threat of large avalanches limits travelers to non-avalanche terrain. Please continue to play safe.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Strong winds last Tuesday night created widespread wind effect in most areas above treeline. Hard wind slabs exist in the alpine lees.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3.5
    A 100-125cm dense slab of January storm snow overlies three weak layers in the mid snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on the aspect and elevation.

Weather Forecast

A little more snow into Sunday morning and lots more wind; then cold and clear into the future. Do the inversion dance.

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs are common in open areas, with loading on easterly aspects. Commonly, a deep slab overlies midpack weaknesses of surface hoar, crusts, and facets. The depth of these slabs varies from 75 cm to 150 cm. These layers have been producing very large avalanches over the past week.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported today. Visibility was poor

Confidence

Regions covered