Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2016 4:00PM

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

grant statham, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The biggest risk right now is the cold! -25 with wind can be brutal. Bring lots of clothing, hot shots for your hands, big mitts and ask yourself if you really need to be out for long in this weather. Don't get injured or stuck out overnight!

Summary

Weather Forecast

The cold and clear weather will continue through the week, with overnight lows in some areas hitting -30. No new snow in the forecast, but there is some hope of warmer air starting this weekend, and perhaps even reaching -5 by Monday.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is mostly faceted, and grows weaker each day with these cold temperatures. Recent snowpack tests near Sunshine showed loose facets in the upper 30 cm, which have no cohesion and are creating the Loose Dry problem. Also 40 cm above the ground is the Nov 12 crust, also growing weaker each day.

Avalanche Summary

No significant slab avalanches have reported or observed in the past week. Loose snow avalanches are occurring out of steeper terrain, mostly related to facetting.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

The surface snow is faceting rapidly and becoming weak, resulting in sluffs developing in steep and/or confined terrain. Be very wary of your exposure above and below, and remember to ski off fall line to manage any sluffs growing behind you.

On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The Nov 12 crust has weak snow all around it, and is a suspect and dangerous layer. Although it's reactivity seems to have abated during the current cold snap, we expect it to awaken again with additional load and warmer temperatures (one-day).

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2016 4:00PM