Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Feb 12 – 13, 2023Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 4 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Continued strong winds are likely to keep wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline reactive to skier/boarder traffic.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    These slabs are sensitive and can be easily triggered by humans. In many areas these wind slabs overlay a variety of surfaces like crusts and facets. On Sunday, daytime warming/solar radiation may make this problem more sensitive.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    Natural and artificial avalanches are still triggering this layer, with initiation occurring in the slab or stepping down.

Avalanche Summary

Ski hills are reporting wind slab avalanches up to size 2 with explosives control, with one stepping down to the deep persistent layer. Sunshine reported a natural cornice failure to size 2. Continued evidence of a previous natural avalanche cycle in the alpine.

Confidence

Moderate

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of recent storm snow in the North (10cm in the South) of the region has been redistributed by strong winds forming widespread, reactive windslabs. Two crusts exist in the upper snowpack and the November facets remain near the base. These buried weak layers remain a concern and continue to produce avalanches. Minimal reactivity has been observed below treeline.

Weather Summary

A mix of sun and cloud with a chance of flurries through the day. Snow fall expected to start in the late afternoon or early evening with amount's up to 5cm's. Alpine highs are forecast to be between -2 and -5 degrees, with freezing levels between1500-1800m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Regions covered