Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 30 – 31, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Avalanche control on the Sunshine Road on Tuesday, no climbing or skiing in the slide paths tomorrow. Strong wind and snowfall overnight Monday will start a major avalanche cycle on Tuesday. Avoid avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Recent winds and new snow have formed slabs in leeward areas of alpine and treeline terrain, and caused natural avalanches and small cornice failures. The slabs will be building Monday night and if triggered, may step down to persistent layers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    There are three weak layers in the upper snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on your aspect and elevation. Avalanches are occurring on these layers and human triggering is likely.

Weather Forecast

Warm temps, substantial snowfall and strong SW wind are forecasted Monday night and through Tuesday. This will initiate a major avalanche cycle. A slight cooling trend and easing snowfall is expected Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storms have deposited 35-65cm of storm snow in the last 5 days. Increasing wind and steady snowfall today are loading 3 persistent weak layers of surface hoar and facets in the upper half of the snowpack: Jan 16 down 25-45cm; Jan 6 down 35-55cm; and Dec15 down 45-80cm. In snowpits, these layers are giving sudden test results.

Avalanche Summary

A skier remote avalanche (size 2) was reported in the Sunshine backcountry. Although visibility was limited there have been many reports throughout the forecast region of audible avalanches through the day as the storm intensifies.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

Regions covered