Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
We will likely have another natural avalanche cycle starting Sunday. SH
Weather Forecast
We are expecting 40cm+ West of the divide and in the Lake Louise, Bow Summit area, and 20cm + in the Sunshine area starting tonight. This will be accompanied by moderate to strong westerly winds and warming temperatures. We should see the storm leave the area by Monday morning.
Snowpack Summary
Strong west winds have created widespread wind effect in the ALP and at TL. Below 1500m a rain crust exists. The Feb.10th layer is down 50-110 and is still showing easy to moderate test results in thinner snowpack areas, and harder results in deeper snowpack areas. Areas with buried sun crust are especially touchy.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche observations today. We are still only just coming out of a major avalanche cycle
Confidence
on Sunday
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
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.