Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2013 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Dry and Wind Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mod NW alpine winds Sunday with a few cm possible West of the divide, but dry in the Eastern regions. Forecasts are currently calling for increasing winds Monday night/Tuesday into the strong - extreme range and light amounts of snow.Â This may increase the overall hazard.

Snowpack Summary

Field trips in Kootenay and Hwy93 N. found surface hoar to 1cm up to treeline as well as surface facetting.Â Some hard wind slabs in alpine areas are mainly unreactive.Â Mid pack maintaining strength in deeper snow pack areas, but thin areas are mainly faceted, including the basal Nov 6 crust.

Avalanche Summary

A few small loose snow avalanches triggered by skiers in very steep terrain at treeline in the Kootenay region.Â Some small loose snow avalanches also noted from steep features in the alpine on solar aspects from the last 24 hrs.Â All were maximum sz. 1

Confidence

on Sunday

Problems

Loose Dry

Watch for sloughing in very steep, shallow terrain where the snow has lost all cohesion due to facetting.

Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Variable wind slabs have been mainly unreactive in the past few days, but are still areas to avoid in steep alpine features.

Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2013 4:00PM