Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
This is a good time to be conservative in your terrain choices and minimize exposure to avalanche terrain. The chances of human triggered avalanches will increase as temperatures rise.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
This layer continues to linger in forecasters minds. Easy test results and report of significant whumps and cracks show the potential for this to be a dangerous problem. Be very careful with this layer and travel conservatively.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
- Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.
Avalanche Summary
The Dec 15 interface continues to show signs of reactivity, reports throughout the forecast region note significant whumphs and cracking from skier traffic at treeline and above. Avalanche activity from this problem was observed along the sunshine road releasing a size 2 slab.
Snowpack Summary
Warm alpine temperatures and clear skies moistening the upper snowpack on steep S-W aspects. There is 30-50 cm over the Dec.15 persistent weak layer of facets and surface hoar. This Dec 15th layer is becoming reactive to skiers at treeline and above and producing easy to moderate snowpack test results. Below this is a heavily faceted snowpack.
Weather Forecast
A temperature inversion will continue through the forecast region, with alpine temperatures above freezing through Monday into Tuesday. Skies will remain relatively clear and winds in the light to moderate range. Expect unusually strong solar outputs for this time of the year on South and West aspects Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
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Wind slabs have formed in the alpine and near ridge crests at treeline. Watch for the changing feel of the snow under your feet and be wary of areas with denser surface snow over weaker snow.