Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 25 – 26, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

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Controlling the urge to ski the fresh powder on big features will be the most important factor to avoiding an avalanche incident. Stick to lower angled slopes with little overhead hazard. There have been a few close calls already.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Storm slabs continue to be reactive. Natural activity has lessened but the likelihood of triggering an avalanche is high.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3.5

    The weak, faceted mid and lower pack is overloaded by the new storm snow at all elevations. If you trigger the deep facets it will result in a very large avalanche.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will stay cool Wednesday and Thursday with lows in the -15 to -20C range. Light winds and mainly clear skies for the next 2 days.

Snowpack Summary

30-60cm of settled storm snow has formed storm slabs all elevations and aspects. Below the new snow the snowpack structure is generally weak, consisting of facets and depth hoar and a Nov crust up to 2500m. These weak layers are getting overloaded with all of the new snow.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity to size 3 on all aspects and elevations has slowed from a few days ago. Explosive control today continued to produce large avalanches to size 3 running full path. A skier triggered a sz. 1.5 in West Bowl outside Lake Louise ski resort yesterday, and today a group triggered a sz. 2.5 in the same spot which went to ground..

Confidence

Regions covered