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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2022–Jan 13th, 2022

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Tricky conditions right now with freezing levels reaching 2000m and warm, dense snow becoming more cohesive on the surface. Any avalanches that happen seem to be running further due to weak facets low in the avalanche paths. Watch overhead hazard.

Weather Forecast

The strong southwesterly flow continues for the next 24-hours with strong winds, freezing levels to 2000 m and another 10-20 cm of snow (rain low elevations). This changes at the end of the day Thursday following a cold front, when a ridge of high pressure builds, the skies clear and the temperatures drop by 10 degrees.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures, winds, 10 cm of snow and light rain to ~2000 m have created dense windslabs that overlie facets from the Xmas cold snap and produce moderate test results. At lower elevations the middle of the snowpack is facetted and this is adding to the runout distance of any avalanches that occur.

Avalanche Summary

One size 2 avalanche observed in a steep path at 1900m on Mt. Field today. We suspect this is a windslab failing on facets below it. Further east, a new pattern is emerging with several size 2 to 2.5 avalanches failing as windslabs, then becoming deeper on facets at lower elevations. No evidence of this yet in Yoho, but observations are limited.

Confidence

Problems

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.