Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 15th, 2017–Feb 16th, 2017

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Tricky conditions - skier triggered size 2.5 today and many large avalanches over the past 4 days. Give avalanche terrain that has not had a large avalanche a wide berth.

Weather Forecast

The temperatures will drop through the day on Thursday and will be accompanied by some more new snow (5 cm probably thursday night).

Snowpack Summary

45 cm of settled snow has formed a cohesive slab overlying a series of weak layers. Test results indicate "sudden" shear failures on these layers, which indicates that they are primed for triggering. Recent strong winds and warm temperatures have tipped the balance, and most slopes that have not avalanche should be considered highly suspect.

Avalanche Summary

Skier triggered a size 2.5 avalanche on West aspect, in Lipalian 2 outside Lake Louise ski area. Numerous large deep avalanches over the past 4 days. Avalanche control on Tuesday produced an impressive size 3 avalanche on Vermillion Peak.

Confidence

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.