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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2017–Mar 31st, 2017

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Danger ratings in this area are primarily based upon the forecast of higher solar input.  Start early and watch locally for sun effect.  SH

Weather Forecast

Lots of solar input and freezing levels to 2000m Friday. There will be mainly light winds and no new snow. Temperatures will stay warm with a slight temperature inversion Saturday and a cooling trend for Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

15-25 cm of recent storm-snow sits which was turning moist Friday, sits on a well settled mid-pack. In shallow areas (eg: Field ice climbs) the base is weak and facetted and shears persist on this interface. In deeper areas (eg: Little Yoho Valley), the snowpack is settled with the deeper weak layers being less of a concern.

Avalanche Summary

Some loose, wet slides out of steep solar terrain in the alpine today on Mt. Field. No other avalanches noted.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Thursday

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.