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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Regions
Glacier.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=15693&oPark=100205If the sun stays out this afternoon, avoid terrain facing the sun, especially if the surface gets moist. Avalanches could be triggered around hot spots like rocks and trees.
Weather Forecast
A high pressure ridge will remain in place through the forecast period, with unseasonably warm temperature at high elevations forecast. Today, expect alpine temperatures around +2 deg and light ridge top winds. Freezing levels will drop to valley bottom tonight, and rise tomorrow to 1300 m. No precipitation is forecast for the next 3 days.
Snowpack Summary
Over 1m of new snow from the last week is settling. It sits on a surface hoar/graupel layer. Strong SW winds have formed slabs in exposed terrain at all elevations. Expect to find a solar crust on steep SW/W aspects and a supportive rain crust below 1300m. The mid pack is well settled with the Nov28 surface hoar layer down around 2m where present.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed yesterday along the highway corridor. Click on https://www.facebook.com/ParksMountainSafety to see images of the latest avalanche cycle this past Monday.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.