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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2020–Mar 10th, 2020

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

A forecasted wind event is expected on Tuesday creating fresh wind slabs.

Weather Forecast

The high pressure system will start to close out on Tuesday. As this happens wind will increase significantly from the SW in to the strong to extreme range. Snow will start Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning expect up to 15cm. Temperatures will stay in the range of -5 in the valley and -15 at the ridge.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine the wind is starting to produce soft slabs in lee areas. New sun crusts exist on steep solar aspects. 40-50 cm of recent snow sits over the Feb 29 crust interface on steep solar aspects. In thin snow pack areas a dense mid-pack sits over a weak, faceted base, while thick areas have a stronger base.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control on Mt Dennis produced results to size 3 (large cornices that entrain facets and new snow). Evidence of avalanches up to size 3 from the cycle from the past few days in the Little Yoho region.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Monday

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.

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.