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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2019–Apr 21st, 2019

Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Little Yoho.

A very widespread cycle of natural and skier triggered avalanches up to size 3 was observed Saturday. Steep slopes will remain primed for human triggering on Sunday. Make conservative terrain choices until the storm snow has a chance to bond.

Weather Forecast

Cool temperatures with freezing levels at valley bottom are expected Saturday night. Generally clear skies (lots of solar heating!) and light W winds are expected on Sunday. Monday looks similar with a bit more wind and slightly warmer temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

60-100 cm of snow in the last week with snowpack depths reaching seasonal highs above 2000 m. Strong to extreme W winds with 20-40+ cm of snow on Friday created widespread storm slabs in alpine areas and sluffing in steep terrain. This recent snow sits on a variety of surfaces above treeline. Moist snow at lower elevations and on solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday Visitor Safety staff observed widespread natural and skier triggered slab avalanches up to size 3 above 2000 m with 50-200 cm thick crowns, especially on North and East aspects. Wet loose avalanches were observed to size 2 at lower elevations and steep south aspects, with sluffing on steep N aspects and several new cornice failures.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.