Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 21 – 22, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Today was a beautiful day in the mountains; clear and calm. Tuesday promises to be the same. Another 5-10 cm storm for Wednesday with rising freezing levels - ice climbers heading for Field on Wednesday should make sure it's not raining!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Areas at treeline and higher elevations have been blasted by the winds. This has created wind crust on the surface, and windslab avalanche problems in steep, windloaded areas.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    The weak and unpredictable snowpack persists in the Lake Louise area and eastern side of the forecast region, where all steep terrain remains suspect. This problem is much less prominent west of the Divide, where the snowpack is deeper and stronger.

Weather Forecast

Expect a mix of sun and clouds on Tuesday with highs of -2. On Wednesday, winds shift to the north again and a minor system will pass through the area depositing 5-10cm of snow. Freezing levels will rise to1900 m that day, so that means possible rain at lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is slowly starting to heal. Observations today on the west side of the Divide (Yoho Park) showed a strong, 150 cm snowpack at treeline with no shears. Eastern areas continue to have a shallow, weak and unpredictable snowpack, but the peak of instability from last week's cycle is past. The snow is very wind effected in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed in the last 48-hours.

Confidence

Regions covered