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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 7th, 2017–Feb 8th, 2017
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high
Below Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be high

Regions: Little Yoho.

Wind and storm slabs were less touchy than anticipated on Monday. However, ice climbers still may want to avoid climbs with overhead hazard for a while yet.

Weather Forecast

Up to 25mm of precip is expected with warming temperatures starting Thursday late in the day. Accompanied by strong West wind, we expect these weather inputs to elevate the danger rating to HIGH on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

The past 3-day storm has deposited 10 cm in Field and 25 cm at higher elevations. Strong winds from the Yoho Blow have been ripping through the Kicking Horse Pass, but outside this area the winds have generally been light except at the higher elevations. Overall a weak snowpack exists, and with several weak layer buried deep in the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A few small avalanches up to size1.5 were triggered by explosives on Mt. Bosworth today during a control run. In general, forecasters observed the avalanches during the control run to be thin and sluggish with little mass. A recreational party reported remotely triggering a size 1 avalanche from 10m away at the Hector Glades near highway 93N.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Thursday

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

The generally weak, facetted mid pack is producing moderate to hard shears. In the upper snowpack around treeline a buried layer of surface hoar produces variable shears.

  • Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
  • Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Soft wind slabs were observed by forecasters today in the alpine. Of particular interest was the observation of soft slabs in West facing lee areas produced from recent E and N wind.

  • Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by an upslope storm.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2