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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2020–Jan 3rd, 2020

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Lots of uncertainty with incoming weather systems, more snow expected west of Divide and Northern part of the region.

If we receive less snow than forecasted the hazard will remain in the Considerable range.

Weather Forecast

5-15 cm forecasted for tonight and tomorrow, coupled with westerly winds and temperatures increasing through the day will correspondingly elevate the avalanche hazard. Another storm is expected Saturday bringing even more snow, wind, and temperatures will start to cool.

Snowpack Summary

10-15 cm over the past 2 days. The alpine has been hammered by W wind creating wind slabs in the alpine to treeline. Generally, the upper snowpack of denser snow sits over a weak lower snowpack consisting of facets, depth hoar and crusts. At treeline, new snow sits on pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas and sun crust on steep solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Natural and explosive triggered size 1 wind slabs today in lee alpine terrain, 20-50 cm thick and propagating 15-30 cm. One natural size 2.5 off Mt. Bourgeau in an alpine feature that had slid in the last storm but has since reloaded.

Confidence

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.