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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2016–Jan 27th, 2016

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Incoming storms will keep the danger elevated over the next couple days. Adapt your mindset to reflect the changing conditions!

Weather Forecast

A couple of systems are on track to bring some precipitation in the next few days. It has already started snowing as of this afternoon and we can expect 10-15 cm overnight on Tuesday with moderate to strong SW winds. A short break on Wednesday PM and then another 10 - 20 cm overnight Wednesday and into Thursday. 1500 to 1700 m freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of new snow overlies the January 6th weak layer which is surface hoar between 1500 and 2000 m and facets above this. This layer has been reactive to explosives in the last few days and in the alpine, it has been blown into fresh windslabs in exposed locations. The middle of the snowpack is facetted. A rain crust exists below 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Monday's avalanche control work in Kootenay resulted in widespread avalanches between size 2 and 3 with fracture lines ranging from 25-50 cm deep failing on the Jan 6th layer of surface hoar and facets. Local ski hills reporting several size 1.5 -2 windslabs triggered with explosives today. No recent avalanche observations in the Little Yoho zone.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

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.

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.