Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2013–Mar 6th, 2013

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

A few more days of conservative terrain choices would be a good idea. This will allow the recent storm snow to bond to the older surfaces.

Weather Forecast

A rather benign weather pattern for the next few days will bring light winds to the alpine, no precipitation, and moderate diurnal fluctuations in temperatures (alpine highs of -10*, lows of -15*)

Snowpack Summary

Up to 60 cm of storm snow since Friday has settled to 30-40 cm. Cool temperatures have tightened the upper pack and promoted bonding within the storm snow and on the storm snow interface, however we still expect to see storm slabs that are reactive to skier triggering in steeper alpine terrain.

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of a wide-spread natural cycle up to size 3 (at treeline and above elevations) in the storm snow from previous 72 hours. Several avalanches (up to size 2.5) observed from past 36 hours along Highway 93 North and South (all in the alpine)

Confidence

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.