Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Lake Louise.
Early season conditions are present with a thin snowpack, lots of variability in snow depth, and plenty of lurking hazards to hit. Some good travel and turns can be found, but options are limited. Travel with care.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Lake Louise snow safety reported 10 m shooting cracks from skis on Northerly aspects where surface hoar has been thinly buried by drifted snow. Otherwise no new reports of avalanches from the MIN, a patrol up to Bow Summit or from the ski hills.
Snowpack Summary
Thin reactive wind slabs on underlying surface hoar were found in the Louise region today. The more widespread wind slab problem described earlier this week has become unreactive. 50-80 cm of total snow at treeline throughout the region, with up to 200 cm in loaded alpine features. Below treeline is generally below the threshold for avalanches.
Weather Summary
Clear weather continues. Winds will remain light from the SW-NW. Daytime Temperatures warm to 0C to -5 C depending on elevation as we approach the weekend. No snow in the forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds slabs that formed earlier in the week have become less reactive overall, except in places where deposited snow overlies surface hoar. Louise snow safety reports the layer to be easy to initiate a failure on with 10 m shooting cracks from skis.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5