Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 30 – 31, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

An avalanche cycle is expected from this weekend's storm. Avalanches are expected to be touchy for a while. Avoid avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3
    This problem dominates the central and eastern part of the forecast region and will continue to do so for some time. Natural activity on this layer has decreased but human triggered avalanches on this layer are still possible.

Weather Forecast

The storm should taper by Sunday but some residual avalanche activity is expected. Cooler incoming air is expected to squeeze the last humidity out of the air giving us light flurries on Sunday. Colder conditions on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

The majority of the BYK region is a 40-60cm slab of stiff snow or new windslab overlying 40cm of weak facets and depth hoar. This nasty combination continues to produce whumphing and easy test results. Deeper snowpack areas are stronger, but have a 60-80cm slab over top of the Dec10 surface hoar/facet layer.

Avalanche Summary

Several avalanches were noted on Friday but their extent and size was obscured.

Confidence

Regions covered