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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2013–Mar 16th, 2013

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Touchy conditions will prevail over the next few days. Wise, conservative terrain choices will treat you well.

Weather Forecast

A cooler and still moist westerly air mass will move across the regions on Saturday. Expect light flurries bringing up to 5cm tomorrow, another 5cm on Sunday, along with moderate westerly winds. Temp's should drop significantly by late Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

40-60cm of storm snow has fallen in the last 2 days, with higher amounts observed west of the Divide and up Hwy 93N. Storm slabs have formed on the surface and are bonded poorly to the older surfaces. Below tree-line, the rain saturated surface layers should start to stabilize with the decreasing temp's tomorrow afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

Still a lot of natural activity observed today, especially below tree-line in Yoho and in steeper, rocky terrain. Loose, moist size 1-1.5's observed below tree-line. Visibility into the alpine was poor once again, but moderate to strong winds were transporting the new snow and likely creating natural avalanches.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

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.

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.