Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 12th, 2016 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.

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

New surface snow is running far and fast below treeline on steep features. They are powerful enough to knock someone over or carry someone to an undesirable location at high speed.

Summary

Weather Forecast

For the next few days expect overcast skies, small amounts of snow (virtually a trace) and moderate to strong wind at higher elevations from the west. This combination of factors will produce small windslabs in lee areas in the alpine. The wind is expected to die down on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Varying amounts of snow fell across the forecast region in the past 24hr. Most of this was in Kootenay with 10-15cm, less in other areas. The new snow sits on top of a generally weak and faceted snowpack due to the recent cold clear period. When more snow load arrives, expect to see a significant avalanche cycle.

Avalanche Summary

1 size 1.5 natural avalanche was reported on an open slope on the treed should of Mt. Hector. This was triggered by new snow loading onto an old windslab. It ran for 300m. Additionally, the new surface snow was sluffing far and fast on steep features below treeline adjacent to Vermillion Peak today.

Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations on Tuesday

Problems

Loose Dry

Forecasters could easily trigger the new surface snow in steep features today below treeline. The new snow entrained old facets. Skiers remember to manage sluffs and ice climbers watch you don't get knocked off your feet.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

The new snow and mod-strong west wind is creating fresh winslabs in the alpine. These slabs are generally bonding poorly to the underlying suncrust or facets.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 13th, 2016 4:00PM