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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 9th, 2024–Feb 10th, 2024

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

An uptick in wind this weekend will likely start developing wind slabs in the alpine and create sluffing in steep features. We have removed the deep persistent avalanche problem as forecasters feel triggering is unlikely (not impossible!) and lack recent activity.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine reported triggering small wind slabs to size 1.5, and 1 explosive triggered size 2 avalanche on the persistent, mid-pack facets.

No other avalanches were observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

15-25cm of recent storm snow overlays the Feb 3 temperature crust present on all aspects except north above 2500m. This crust ranges from 1cm to 15cm (thickest in Yoho). A thin sun-crust exists on the surface on steep south aspects. Mid-pack weak layers from Dec and Jan are down roughly 30 and 50cm. Facets and depth hoar make up the basal layers of the snowpack in most locations.

Weather Summary

Saturday: No snow expected, increasing NW alpine winds from 40-55kmh, and valley bottom freezing levels.

Sunday: 2-4cm, with moderate to strong West winds and valley bottom freezing levels.

For more mountain weather, click HERE.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.

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.

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.