Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Feb 20 – 21, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Dry good ski conditions continue, watch for small amounts of loading from light to moderate winds which will produce windslabs in the alpine and treeline.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    New snow and Light to Moderate westerly winds have created wind slabs. These slabs have yet to produce anything larger than a size 2.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    A sustained period of cold weather has driven the faceting process in the upper snowpack creating weak, dry surface snow. In steep terrain, these are sensitive to small natural and human triggers and can quickly gain enough mass to affect travelers.

Weather Forecast

For Wednesday we expect Light to Moderate Northerly winds switching to North East in the afternoon, temperatures from -15 to -5 and trace amounts of new snow.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 50 cm of snow has fallen since Feb 2. Recent new snow has been affected by Light to Moderate westerly winds. Cold conditions continue promoting faceting of the snowpack. Down 30 to 75cm, Jan 17 surface hoar produces sudden planar shears in isolated locations treeline an below. A weak basal snowpack exists in shallow areas.

Avalanche Summary

Several reports of both skier triggered wind slabs and loose dry avalanches have been noted this past week. Generally these avalanches have been small (size1-2) but have been running far, entraining the loose faceted surface snow.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered