Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Little Yoho
Human triggering and some natural avalanche activity continues to occur on the various weak layers buried in our snowpack. We expect this to increase Sunday night and Monday. Minimize exposure and avoid large avalanche terrain until things improve!
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use conservative route selection, choose supported terrain with low consequence.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Recent winds and new snow have formed slabs in leeward areas of alpine and treeline terrain, and caused natural avalanches and small cornice failures. These slabs are starting to bond but can still be triggered and may step down to persistent layers.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
More evidence of a widespread cycle on persistent weak layers up to size 3 in the last 48hrs was observed with debris crossing the Takkakaw Falls road below Wapta Peak and numerous slabs out at treeline in the Yoho Valley. One natural size 2.5 cornice triggered slab was observed on Mt Crowfoot near the Wapta Icefields this morning.
Snowpack Summary
Recent alpine winds have created wind slabs in leeward areas up to 1m thick. 35-65 cm of settled snow from recent storms has formed a soft slab over the three persistent weak layers of surface hoar and facets that lurk in the upper half of the snowpack often giving sudden test results. Jan 16 down 35-65cm; Jan 6 down 40-75cm; Dec15 down 55-100cm
Weather Forecast
Temps on Sunday will be in the -5 to-10'C range at treeline with some warming late in the day and 10-15 cm of snow, mostly later in the day. Sunday night should see a rise in temperatures and increased snowfall into Monday which will likely cause a natural avalanche cycle if the current forecast comes true.
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There are three weak layers in the upper snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on your aspect and elevation. Avalanches are occurring on these layers and human triggering is likely.