Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 18th, 2016 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Dry and Wind Slabs.

grant statham, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We are in the textbook "straw that broke the camel's back" situation as the new snow, wind and facets are all adding up. The loose snow avalanches are serious, and people are going for rides. Not large avalanches, but they can run far and have power.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Continued light snowfall for the next 24 hours, with another 2-4 cm expected and temperatures ranging from -5 to -15. Moderate (40+ km/hr) westerly winds at higher elevations.

Snowpack Summary

15-20cm of recent storm snow from the past week has been blown into windslabs in high alpine areas; expect isolated soft slabs up to 40cm deep in loaded areas. Meanwhile, the overall snowpack continues to gradually become weaker from the facetting process, and in some areas the upper snowpack is comprised entirely of facets with no cohesion.

Avalanche Summary

Observed a size 2 natural avalanche that ran 800 meters on Mt. Fairview above Lake Louise today. Additionally, a party of skiers in the Lake Louise backcountry triggered a loose dry avalanche that was large enough the bury their equipment and necessitate a backcountry evacuation since they lost their gear.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

New snow and surface facets will sluff easily in steep terrain (40+ degrees). These sluffs may have high consequence for skiers or climbers in large or confined terrain. Manage your exposure closely in order to control your risk.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

The new snow over the last week has been slowly adding up, compounded by moderate west winds to created localized windslabs. Pay close attention to the distribution of the snow in the alpine.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 19th, 2016 4:00PM