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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2016–Apr 2nd, 2016

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Plan to start early and finish early!

If the sun comes out expect the hazard to rise towards HIGH, especially if the wind dies down.

Weather Forecast

Increased cloud and wind forecast for Saturday and Sunday should keep things cooler. Freezing levels will drop to only 2000 m and rise to 2400 m on Saturday. Monitor cloud cover and wind, if the sun comes out the hazard will rapidly rise.

Snowpack Summary

After 2 hot days expect crusts on all aspects and elevations (expect very high North aspects). They are supportive while intact and ski crampons may be needed. Freezing levels will only dip to 2000 m tonight so do not expect strong crusts below treeline. The snowpack is warm and it would not take much to bump us back into HIGH if the sun came out.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avalanche cycle on all aspects over the past 2 days. Numerous deep persistent slabs failing to ground to size 3.5 in the BYK zone especially on N-NW aspects. Numerous wet avalanches on solar aspects. The Field backroad is currently closed with debris on it.

Confidence

Problems

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.