Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 23 – 24, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

The weak layers in the snowpack are unlikely to stabilize quickly. Human triggered avalanches are likely for a while yet. Make conservative terrain choices.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Fresh wind slabs from strong winds over the last 2 days have formed within the new storm snow. These will be most prevalent in the lee of features and may stay reactive over the next couple of days.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    The Dec. 10 persistent layer of facets and surface hoar is now buried 40 - 80cm. Avalanches have either been independently running on this layer, or stepping down to the basal weakness.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3
    Recent snow has now overloaded the Oct. 26 deep persistent layer of facets and depth hoar, and there is enough mass now to cause large avalanches.

Weather Forecast

Cold (mid teens) and cloudy. Conditions are unlikely to have much effect on the forecast.

Snowpack Summary

An average 40-80 of recent storm snow with variable wind effect now sits over the Dec. 10 facet/surface hoar interface. In many areas the lower snowpack is weak with the October 26 depth hoar, facets and crust near the base. Snow pack depths range from 90-160 cm at ~2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

The natural cycle continued into this morning throughout the forecast area. Large avalanches to size 3 were noted.

Confidence

Regions covered