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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2021–Feb 19th, 2021

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Winds are forecasted to increase on Friday so expect to see more wind-slab development  above tree-line.

Weather Forecast

Overnight lows still chilly (-15-18) but day time highs at valley bottom rising to -8 through Saturday. Friday will be overcast with only scattered flurries and alpine winds rising to 50 km/h. Sunday will see a change with some models forecasting 20-30 cm of snow and strong SW winds.

Snowpack Summary

Extensive wind effect and isolated, thin wind-slabs throughout the alpine. At tree-line and below the snowpack is well settled except the surface snow which is facetted and sluffs in steep terrain. A facet and sun crust layer buried Jan 27 persists at treeline down 30-40 cm.

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise SKi Hill reported a skier triggered size 1 wind slab (30 cm deep) out of steep north facing alpine terrain. Otherwise no significant slab avalanche activity reported or observed over the past 5 days. Sluffing of the facetted surface snow continues to happen in very steep areas.

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.