Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 5 – 6, 2012Parks Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 15 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Another warm, wet system is pushing into the Rockies and we may receive up to 20cm in the alpine overnight, accompanied by strong west winds. This will likely result in a natural avalanche cycle in the alpine and open tree-line features on Thursday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Wind slabs up to 1m deep can be triggered by a person in avalanche terrain. Pay attention to the hardness of the slab; the greater the hardness, the greater the propagation potential. This means large avalanches are possible if you trigger something.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The basal facets/depth hoar are becoming less reactive in field tests, but If a wind slab is initiated, it may have enough volume to step down to create larger avalanches. Other trigger points will be thin, cross-loaded features and ridge crests.

Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Avalanche Summary

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Thursday

Regions covered