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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

May 2nd, 2014–May 3rd, 2014

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

Winter is back at the higher elevations with cooling temperatures and 5-10cm of new snow forecast for each of the next few days. Watch carefully for rising temperatures as any increase in freezing levels will result in an increased danger rating.

Weather Forecast

Light North winds with periods of snow and accumulations between 5-10cm are expected over the next three days.  Alpine temperatures will drop to between around -5'C to -10'C overnight with day time highs hovering at or just above the freezing level. Freezing levels are forecast to remain near the 1900m level.

Snowpack Summary

Rain to tree line this morning followed by 5-10cm of wet snow with greater accumulations in the alpine. Below tree line the snowpack is mostly isothermal and rain soaked. Thin areas at tree line and above are also becoming isothermal.  Avalanches are occurring on the the deep persistent weak layers of facets and depth hoar during this warm spell.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet slides to size 2.5 and deep slab avalanches to size 3 failing on the basal facets have been observed over the past 24 hours on all aspects and at all elevations.  The majority of the deep slabs are occurring in thin steep rocky ground in the alpine.  Several recent cornice failures up to size 2 have also been observed. 

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.