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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2014–Apr 24th, 2014

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Pay attention to how strong the overnight freeze is and how quickly it warms during the day. Start early and finish before it warms up.  Cornice failures continue to occur, be mindful of overhead hazard.

Weather Forecast

Freezing levels to valley bottom tonight and some clear skies will help the overnight freeze.  Cloudy skies forecasted tomorrow with mid mountain highs around -2 along the Divide.  Periods of sun can be expected along the eastern part of the region.

Snowpack Summary

Cooler day today. Windslabs developing in the alpine 20-40 cm thick sitting on a crust. Freezing levels to valley bottom tonight with periods of clear skies. Moist snow in afternoon on solar aspects up to ridgetops and to 2400 m on polar aspects.  Random patches of isothermal wallowing in thinner snowpack areas below treeline.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed in patrols today down to Field and up to Bow Summit. Monday was warmer with more sun and we saw a loose snow avalanche cycle up to Class 2 running out of steep rocky terrain through most of the region. Debris generally ran to top of runouts. No slab avalanches observed.

Confidence

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.