Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 15th, 2021–Feb 16th, 2021

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

Little Yoho.

We have observed several cornice failures over the last few days. The recent cold snap has facetted and weakened them. Some of these failures have triggered slabs on the slopes below, others have not.

Give cornices an even wider berth than normal.

Weather Forecast

The drought continues! Skies will cloud over on Tuesday and we may see a dusting of snow and increasing alpine winds to moderate from the west. Winds will die down on Wednesday as light flurries taper off. Thursday will be clear and cold with lows in the -25 range and highs -10 to -15. But don't worry, they are calling for -1 on Friday ;)

Snowpack Summary

Isolated small wind slabs exist in exposed alpine and treeline areas. In sheltered areas, the surface snow is facetted and is starting to sluff more easily in steep terrain. A facet layer from Jan 27th is present at treeline and in the alpine down 30-40. On steep south this layer may consist of a thin sun crust as well.

Avalanche Summary

Several cornice failures have been observed over the past few days including one on Fatigue Mountain on Sunday that triggered a size 3 to ground reminding us that there is still a deep layer. Forecasters ski cut a size 2 in the Simpson area at 2100 m on the persistent layer Saturday. SSV reports working with small stubborn windslabs in the alpine

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.