Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 23 – 24, 2015Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Stay tunned - a significant weather system is forecasted for the weekend bumping up the hazard. We are monitoring the incoming system which will be most intense along and West of the divide. Game on...

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Surface windslabs formed on Jan 18/19 can be triggered by skiers and climbers. Feel for tension in the surface snow and avoid freshly windloaded terrain.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    In shallower snowpack areas (most of the region) the weak base of the snowpack persists and could be triggered in steep, rocky terrain features. Although in some areas, the Dec. 18th layer persists, management of both layers should be the same.

Weather Forecast

Another benign day of weather for Friday.  We are keeping a close eye on a significant system moving in Friday night through to Sunday.  We are expecting significant snowfall, along the divide and on the West side.  The winds will be moderate to strong Westerly during the system with temperatures warming on Sunday with alpine highs of 0C. 

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack remains fundamentally weak, with a combination of windslab, surface hoar and basal facets all causing concern in different types of terrain. Snowpack tests continue to produce moderate to hard sudden results on the basal weakness/ Dec. 18th interface which has become one and the same in many areas.

Avalanche Summary

No natural avalanches observed, but forecasters on Mt. Field reported a couple large whumphs in an open area below treeline, indicating human triggering of deeper weak layers is still possible in the right terrain.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered