Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
We have reached the tipping point for avalanches in most of the region, and a natural cycle occurred Thursday. We may see a decrease in natural activity for Friday, but slopes are primed for human triggering. Time to step way back.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
- Use conservative route selection, choose supported terrain with low consequence.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
With up to 75cm of snow over the past 9-days there is plenty of wind slab development available to be blown into touchy windslabs which should be anticipated in alpine and treeline areas.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
We have hit the "tipping" point over the weak layers mentioned above and there is a natural avalanche cycle to size 3 occurring. Some avalanches are occurring in the new snow only, with some stepping down to the numerous weak layers below. Explosive control on Bosworth produced results to size 2 within the new snow.
Snowpack Summary
55-75cm of snow has fallen over the past 9-days creating a lot of loose snow on the surface. Alpine winds have distributed this into leeward areas with wind slabs up to 1m thick. Three persistent weak layers lurk in the upper half of the snowpack: Jan 16 down 20-40cm; Jan 6 down 30-50cm; Dec15 down 40-80cm giving easy-mod test results.
Weather Forecast
A cooling trend for Friday with alpine highs of -16C, and valley bottom highs of -12C (-5C on the East slopes like Banff). Only 1-3cm of snow is expected with Westerly alpine winds in the 30-40kmh range.
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There are 3 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