Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 23 – 24, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche control of Mt Bourgeau Monday December 23. Please avoid activity anywhere on Mt Bourgeau and Eagle slide paths.

Enter terrain very cautiously and avoid exposure to overhead hazard. Avalanche conditions will take some time to improve.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    In the short term this will be a problem, especially in gully features and off of sidewalls.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Storm slabs continue to be reactive Sunday. Were seeing widespread avalanche activity releasing from this new load. As the storm snow settles over the next few days natural activity will lessen. Human triggering likely persist for much longer.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    The weak, faceted mid and lower pack is overloaded by the new storm snow at all elevations. Avoid exposer to any large overheads hazard.

Weather Forecast

Overcast skies and light flurries are forecasted for Monday with little to no snow accumulation. Temperatures on Monday will reach a high of -5 in the valley before a gradual cooling trend sets in for the remainder of the week.  Expect wind values to stay in the light to moderate range.

Snowpack Summary

30-60cm of settled storm snow since Friday has formed storm slabs all elevations and aspects. At upper elevations evidence new wind transport is visible. Below the new snow the snowpack structure is generally weak, consisting of facets and depth hoar and a Nov crust up to 2500m. These weak layers are getting overloaded with all of the new snow.

Avalanche Summary

Good visibility today revealed widespread natural avalanche activity to size 3 on all aspects and elevations from the past 48 hours. A noteworthy observations was the effect of the warm temps and rain at lower elevations causing widespread storm slab releases below tree line. Avalanche control today produce numerus slab releases to size 3.

Confidence

Regions covered