Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 3 – 4, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

An inversion is creating warm alpine temperatures even though it is cold in the valleys. This, combined with moderate to strong SW/W winds will raise the hazard on Thursday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Localized moderate winds have created hard windslabs in exposed alpine terrain. Although these have not been reactive to human traffic, they may become more reactive as the alpine temps increase.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The cold temperatures are facetting out cornices and large cornice failures have been observed. Although the cornice failures have not been triggering slabs on the slopes below, the cornice chunks themselves would definitely hurt if they hit you

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    This problem exists mainly in thin snowpack areas E of the divide where the snowpack has completely facetted and lost all cohesion. Watch for sloughing in steep terrain where the snow is unsupportive, particularly as temps increase.

Weather Forecast

Thurs: Inversion with alpine temps in the 0 /-5 range. M-S SW/ W alpine winds. Clear skies.Fri: Inversion breaks down. Alpine temps -10/-15. M-S W/NW alpine winds. Overcast with possibility of 1-2cms.Sat: Alpine temps -5/-10. L-M SW alpine winds. Clear skies.

Snowpack Summary

Hard wind slabs exist in exposed alpine features but haven't been reactive to skier traffic. Suface hoar is growing in sheltered treeline locations. W of the divide, a well settled snowpack exists with the basal Nov 6 crust well bonded. In the front ranges E of the divide, a facetted snowpack exists with the Nov 6 basal crust being mainly facetted.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity.

Confidence

Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Friday

Regions covered