Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 29th, 2015 4:00PM

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

grant statham, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The beautiful weather will continue through the week, but it gradually warms up and Friday looks to be sunny and above freezing. Conditions are great, but watch out for small windslabs which have formed in isolated areas this week.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A strong ridge of high pressure will dominate the region over the new few days, with blue skies and calm winds. Temperatures on Wednesday will range from -5 to -15 and will warm through the week and Friday will reach above freezing. No new snow is expected.

Snowpack Summary

A well settled snowpack with few weaknesses exists throughout the region. Isolated wind slabs up to size 1.5 exist on leeward slopes at treeline and above from recent wind effect. Below 2000m, the Dec 3 layer of surface hoar remains visible and produces hard, planar test results in some areas but has not been reactive to skier traffic.

Avalanche Summary

One size 1.5 natural slab avalanche was observed at 2100 m in an avalanche path above the Sunshine Village parking lot. Trigger is unknown, but we speculate a piece of cornice perhaps.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Isolated windslabs exist at treeline and in alpine areas. It's hard to pin down exactly where these are, but we have seen two small avalanches in the past 48-hours. Be aware of these, and watch the surface snow closely in exposed areas.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 30th, 2015 4:00PM