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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 10th, 2014–Dec 11th, 2014

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Heavy rain at low elevations in Yoho Park today resulted in wet avalanches below treeline. Areas like the Emerald Lake Slide path have not slid yet, and travel in large avalanche terrain is not recommended until the temperatures cools.

Weather Forecast

Strong westerly flow continues through until the weekend when the temperatures begin to cool.  For Thursday, expect another pulse of heavy rain at low elevations in the Little Yoho region, with freezing levels reaching approximately 2000 m.

Snowpack Summary

Although these warm daytime temperatures are promoting overall snowpack settlement, the lower half of the snowpack remains poorly structured, with a weak based comprised entirely of facets and depth hoar. This problem is most pronounced in rocky, windswept terrain at treeline and higher where human triggering of full depth avalanches is possible.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avalanche activity was observed at low elevations today in Yoho Park.  Mostly in the ice climbs near Field.

Confidence

Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday

Problems

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.

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.