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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 19th, 2013–Dec 20th, 2013

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Basal weaknesses are waking up with the added new snow land wind loading. Avalanche control today again produced large, destructive avalanches.  Use caution in avalanche terrain!

Weather Forecast

Increasing wind and moderately cold temperatures forecast for tomorrow will continue snow transport. Occasional light flurries are not expected to affect the forecast.

Snowpack Summary

Faceting and windslabs still dominate the Rockies' snowpack. The deep persistent weak layers are still reactive with additional wind-loading. Triggering overlying slabs is likely and will result in large, destructive avalanches as seen in avalanche control work today.

Avalanche Summary

Lee slopes with an easterly component are deep enough to produce large avalanches. Windslabs over loose facets may be very touchy still. All aspects are producing shallow releases which may run quickly in gullied terrain.

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.