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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 7th, 2023–Feb 8th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Banff, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, Field.

A storm is approaching and models are variable with snowfall amounts. Be on the lookout for greater than forecasted snowfall amounts in your local area. If more snow has fallen than anticipated, the danger rating could be HIGH.

Due to avalanche control, the area surrounding Bourgeau Left and Right is CLOSED on February 8, 2023.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Parks Canada forecasters triggered a fresh size 1 wind slab on Dolomite shoulder today 60 to 80cm deep. Sunshine patrol also triggered 2 size 1 wind slabs. Forecasters anticipate that avalanche activity will increase on Wednesday due to incoming snow Tuesday overnight.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of new snow has fallen on 93N as of Tues afternoon, much less in the rest of the forecast area. There are reactive wind slabs in lee alpine areas. The upper snowpack has several crusts and weak interfaces from January down 25-70cm. The Nov 16 deep persistent facet layer is down 40-110 cm and continues to produce sudden test results.

Weather Summary

Cooling temperatures with the ridge being around -15 and the valley about -6 on Wednesday. Incoming snowfall will vary across the region with more accumulating in the north (up to 20cm). Wind will remain elevated and not come below 40km/hr from the SW. Winds will peak at roughly 80km/hr from the SW early morning hours on Wednesday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.