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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2020–Jan 4th, 2020

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Continued snow, strong winds and mild temps will keep the avalanche hazard elevated. Choose low consequence terrain and minimize exposure to overhead avalanche hazard.

Weather Forecast

5-20cm of snow forecasted for tonight and into Saturday, accompanied by strong Westerly winds. Temperatures are forecasted to drop gradually with an Alpine high of -10. Another 5-10cm on Sunday as the winds drop slightly.

Snowpack Summary

20-40 cm of storm snow, strong Westerly winds and mild temperatures is promoting storm slab formation. Generally, the upper snowpack of denser snow sits over a weak lower snowpack consisting of facets, depth hoar and crusts. At tree line, new snow sits on pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas and sun crust on steep solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity up to sz 2 within the storm slab. Reports of skier triggered and skier remote avalanches up to sz 2 in the Yoho region, no involvements. Local ski areas were getting explosive results up to sz 2 within the storm slab from steep alpine features, crown depths 20-40cm deep.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.