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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2016–Feb 19th, 2016

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Avalanche sightings and/or close calls are still occurring on a daily basis. Cooling temperatures will take some time to start settling down the avalanche activity. We still have low confidence in the current snowpack. SH

Weather Forecast

5-10cm expected overnight with moderate to strong west winds and cooling temperatures.  Freezing levels are forecast to stay at valley bottom with alpine temperatures in the -10 to -12 range with diminishing winds.  Only light snow and winds with cooler temps in the current 3 day forecast.

Snowpack Summary

Fresh windslab and rapid cornice growth is occurring with 20- 40 cm of recent snow and moderate to strong West winds. A 60-130 cm slab overlies the January 6th weak layer of surface hoar (below 2000m), facets and sun crust. This layer is variable in tests, giving mainly hard results in test pits.  The lower snowpack is well settled in the region.

Avalanche Summary

Lots of loose wet activity in the size 1-1.5 range Thursday at treeline and below from warm temperatures and rain in the Little Yoho region.  Some larger avalanches ( size 2-2.5) were noted on solar aspects when the sun popped out on Mt. Ogden in the Takakkaw falls area. 

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Friday

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.