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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2022–Jan 24th, 2022

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.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=http://www.avalanche.ca/spaw/2022-01-20-spaw

As temperatures cool and the winds back off Monday, we expect the hazard to do the same.

Be aware that it is still heads-up hockey out there with both lingering wind slabs and the persistent slab problem producing recent avalanches.

Weather Forecast

As a trough moves south through Alberta Monday, the region will see patchy cloud and possibly a few light flurries as temperatures cool a few degrees. Winds are expected to shift north and back to light to moderate speeds. The winds look to rebound Tuesday as do the temperatures which may reach -5C in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Wind effect and wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree-line areas. New sun crusts can be expected steep solar slopes . 30 to 60 cm of recent snow lies over a facet interface formed in late December. The Dec. 2 crust and facets are generally 100-150cm deep producing hard to no results. Snow depth at tree-line is around 200-250 cm.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported Sunday. Avalanche control in Yoho last week produced slabs with every shot. Most were failing on a wind slab or facet layer 40-60cm deep and then entraining facets in the track. One stepped down to the November facets ~ 180 cm deep.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

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.