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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 28th, 2020–Feb 29th, 2020

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

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Expect new windslab development overnight and Saturday.  Remain cautious in variable snowpacks where it remains possible to trigger the basal weakness from a shallow spot.  Otherwise - great skiing can be found in many locations!

Weather Forecast

Friday Night: Flurries (10-20 cm) with moderate to strong SSW winds.  The higher amounts are for the Northern part of the region along the Divide.

Saturday/Sunday: Cooler temperatures with highs of -8C.  Saturday night temperatures fall to -17, but climb to -11 C with lighter wind and a mix of sun and cloud forecasted for Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Wind effect in the alpine due to gusty SW winds over the past week.  10-20 cm of recent snow over buried sun crust on steep solar aspects. The Feb 1 rain crust is down 20-50 cm and present below 1900 m. In thin snow pack areas a dense mid-pack sits over a weak, faceted base. Thick snowpack areas have a denser base with few weaknesses.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated small thin wind slab in the immediate lees were reported today, otherwise no new avalanches were reported today.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.