Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 23rd, 2014 4:55PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The skiing is excellent so enjoy it, but be patient and stick to moderate terrain until the Feb 10th layer has a chance heal. CJ

Summary

Weather Forecast

Clear skies and overnight temperatures in the -25'C range are forecast for tomorrow with highs around -13'C. Tuesday and Wednesday will see continued clear skies and a gradual warm up. Winds are forecast to be light from the NW.

Snowpack Summary

30-70cm of recent storm snow is sitting over the Feb10th layer of facets, sun crust and surface hoar. Field tests show an easy to moderate persistent shear at this interface. Recent SW winds have also created wind slabs in alpine terrain. These wind slabs are easily triggered and can step down to the Feb 10th interface.

Avalanche Summary

The natural avalanche cycle seems to have subsided, but a skier triggered avalanche (Class 2) was reported in the Lake Louise area today and a skier remote (Class 1.5) was reported in the Helen Lake area yesterday. Lots of evidence of the recent natural cycle on all aspects at treeline and above (up to Class 2.5) failing on the Feb 10th layer.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The natural cycle is over but the Feb 10th interface down 30-70 cm is still producing easy to moderate results, with lots of whumphing and some skier triggered avalanches. Stick to moderate angled, well supported terrain until things improve.

Avoid open slopes with any steepness over 30 degrees.Avoid unsupported slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have produced wind slabs in lee alpine terrain. These wind slabs could step down to the storm snow interface resulting in large avalanches.

Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Recent storm snow has formed touchy slabs.Use caution in lee areas. Wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 24th, 2014 4:00PM