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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 11th, 2016–Dec 12th, 2016

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

We have moved to Low hazard but it is important to remember that the definition of Low includes small avalanches in isolated or extreme terrain.

Watch for sluffing to increase as the snowpack weakens and facets.

Weather Forecast

Moderate northwest winds return on Monday dropping us back into the deep freeze. Temperatures will be slightly warmer than last week but dress warm. Clear skies and sunshine are forecast for the next several days.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm's of new snow sits over small wind slabs in alpine areas near ridge crests, and weak faceted snow in sheltered areas. 30-80 cm of settled snow over the November 12 crust. Stability tests on this crust are mixed, ranging from no results to easy results. Rapid faceting and weakening of the entire snowpack with the cold temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

Small loose dry skier triggered avalanches in steep terrain have been reported in several locations over the past few days as the surface snow facets and weakens. Lake Louise had a couple small soft slabs that they were able to trigger with explosives in steep N facing rocky terrain. No other avalanches observed or reported in the past 4 days.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

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.

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.