Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 25th, 2016–Feb 26th, 2016

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

For Friday we are concerned about low elevation gullies in the afternoon (Field ice climbs), and large south and west facing slopes in the afternoon. If you choose this terrain, get up early and be done by noon.

Weather Forecast

Blue skies and warm temperatures for Friday, with high's up to 5 degrees. Strong winds forecast for upper elevations MAY keep the snow surface cool, but low elevations will be hot in the afternoon - for sure.

Snowpack Summary

Suncrust exists on steep S and W aspects. Otherwise, 20-30 cm of low density snow overlies a well settled mid-pack. The Feb 11 surface hoar can be found down 50-60 cm in isolated locations around treeline and produces moderate test results. The Jan 6th layer (down 80-120 cm) is gaining strength and producing hard to no results.

Avalanche Summary

Many loose wet snow avalanches up to size 1.5 observed on Wednesday, otherwise no recent slab avalanches reported. Note that many recent slab avalanches were reported in the last week in the neighboring Banff, Yoho & Kootenay bulletin region.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday

Problems

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.