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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 24th, 2024–Feb 25th, 2024

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

The more snow we receive Sunday, the more the hazard will increase. Ice climbers watch for loose dry avalanches.

Alpine observations above 2500m are limited for this region, as a result, there remains uncertainty on the potential for triggering deeper instabilities in thin snowpack areas.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Numerous dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 out of steep terrain have been reported over the last 24 hours from the Lake Louise and Field areas.

A group in Surprise Pass reported a size 1 wind slab at tree line.

No other avalanches were reported.

Snowpack Summary

Recent strong winds and new snow have resulted in widespread wind effect at ridgetop and below, creating windslab on lee aspects. In sheltered areas, 15-35 cm of predominantly new and old facetted snow overlies the Feb 3 crust on all but N aspects above 2500m. In shallower snowpack areas, weak facet layers can be found in the mid and lower snowpack. Thin snowpack values overall this year in this sub region with around 130 cm at 2000m.

Weather Summary

Tonight: Periods of snow and local blowing snow. Amount 5 to 10 cm. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. Temperature steady near minus 1. Wind chill near minus 8.

Sunday: Snow and local blowing snow. Amount 10 cm. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. Temperature steady near zero. Wind chill minus 8 in the morning.

Temperatures will cool and winds will abate Monday.

For more information see AvCan's Mt Wx

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for signs of slab formation throughout the day.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.