Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 27th, 2012–Dec 28th, 2012

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Weather Forecast

Mixed sun and cloud with very light snow flurries through Friday and Saturday. A gradual warming trend is forecast through the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

A storm on December 23 dropped between 15 to 30 cm of low density snow over the forecast region. There is wind effect in the storm snow at upper elevations and isolated wind slabs have developed near ridge tops. The November rain crust is breaking down but still identifiable in the bottom third of the pack. This layer is producing hard to no shears

Avalanche Summary

Flight to Bow Summit and to Field in good visibility on Thursday showed very little in the way of recent natural avalanche activity.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.