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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 11th, 2021–Feb 12th, 2021

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.

The avalanche hazard is decreasing but we still get occasional reports of larger slabs so there is a bit more uncertainty around the hazard level. The very cold temperatures are another good reason to choose terrain where you can avoid an incident.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will rise ever so slightly on Friday with highs at treeline of between -15 to -20 C. Winds will also increase slightly with alpine winds in the Light to Moderate range out of the NE which will make it feel very cold in exposed areas so watch for frostbite!

Snowpack Summary

Previous winds from all directions have created wind slabs in lee areas of the alpine, and wind effect in many open alpine and treeline areas. In sheltered areas the surface snow is facetting quickly and beginning to sluff more easily in steep terrain. A buried thin sun crust and facet layer from Jan 27th is present on steep south aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Several smaller natural loose dry avalanches were observed in very steep terrain on Cascade and Mt Whymper in the past 24 hrs. A size 2.5 natural slab avalanche was observed on the "Sickle" on Mt Victoria on Wednesday. Some whumpfing and a few smaller slab avalanches have occurred on steep south aspects in the past week.

Confidence

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.