Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 10th, 2018 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/cond_e.asp?oid=30728&opark=100092Please continue to avoid avalanche terrain. While natural avalanche activity has tapered, human triggering will continue to be likely. Solar releases can be expected from rocky terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Colder temperatures will continue through Sunday into the start of the week with little precipitation in the forecast. Wind values will be at threshold for snow transport Saturday night and will die down by Sunday morning. Light cloud cover Sunday with clearing skies for Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm accumulation of 25-50cm is beginning settle, forming a sportive upper snowpack. The three main mid pack concerns which are the Jan 16th, Jan 6th, and Dec.15 weak layers. These are a mix of facets, crusts and surface hoar and can be found 70cm to over 150cm deep in the snowpack and have producing very large results.

Avalanche Summary

The bulk of the recent avalanche cycle has tapered off. Although less activity has been observed Saturday, reports of the odd size three are still coming in. All avalanche terrain is still highly suspect, and should be avoided.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Three weak layers exist in the mid snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on the aspect and elevation. These layers are sensitive to triggering both naturally and by human triggering.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Wind Slabs

Much of the recent storm snow has now been effected by moderate to strong winds at higher elevations. Expect loading on lee features and new wind slab development on exposed slopes.

If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 11th, 2018 4:00PM