Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 27 – 28, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Strong winds are expected Sunday morning. Give overhead avalanche terrain a wide berth until winds settle back down later in day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Thin wind slabs are currently stubborn and a bit old however with strong winds in the forecast, the potential for these, or cornice features to fail will remain for Sunday. 

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The weak Oct.26 facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack have a significant slab (50-130cm thick) sitting above them. The likelihood of triggering this layer has decreased, but if it does get triggered, the avalanche will be large in size.

Weather Forecast

Freezing levels Saturday reached 2300m with moderate West winds. Overnight, alpine winds are forecast to increase to strong to extreme as a cold front passes bringing some precip and a cooling trend  begins. Midday Sunday should bring and end to the winds as temperatures drop further. Clearing overnight into Monday.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of snow over the last week over isolated suncrusts and surface hoar. Widespread wind effect in the alpine creeping into treeline with current winds. Of greatest concern are the weak facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack. In thinner snowpack areas with less than 150 cm of snow, triggering a slab on these facets is more likely.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today.

Confidence

Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Sunday

Regions covered