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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2021–Jan 23rd, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Strong temperature inversions spell cold mornings on the skin track or on valley bottom climbs. Use the sun to your advantage if possible and carry extra layers to be prepared for un-expected delays or emergencies.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures were at -28C in valley bottom while it was and -10 to -18 at treeline to start the day. A cold front will push south through Alberta Friday night. Although it seems unlikely this will reach as far west as the divide, it does threaten cloud for Saturday morning (perhaps more over the east) and potentially an increase in alpine winds.

Snowpack Summary

Significant wind effect exists in all alpine areas with isolated wind slabs in steep loaded areas of the high alpine. Soft surface snow remains just below ridge crests at treeline. The upper snowpack is faceting. This has diminished the sensitivity of wind slabs, and rendered the four layers of surface hoar visible in the upper meter, as dormant..

Avalanche Summary

A large avalanche occurred Wednesday night - a size 3.5 from the big face on Mt. Lefroy. A similar event was reported on West edge of Kootenay National Park today. Both likely a result of extreme winds on Tuesday. Further evidence of this event can be seen in the form of cornice failures and numerous small wind slabs in alpine lee features.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

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.