Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2018 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The danger may be elevated in steep terrain and gully features, especially on solar aspects if the sun is out. Loose dry snow is sluffing fast and far and can knock you off or bury you in a terrain trap.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Forecasted precipitation beginning Saturday with accumulation values ranging from 10-15cm by Monday. Alpine winds will be moderate to strong from the south west, expect some snow transport in exposed terrain.

Snowpack Summary

20-50cm of snow sits over the december 15 surface hoar layer which is beginning to develop some slab properties. Below this the snowpack is heavily faceted with remanet's of older crust's still lingering throughout. In many areas loose faceted surface snow continues to be the main instability of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A skier triggered avalanche in the Lake Louise backcountry was reported yesterday, releasing a size 1.5 below treeline. This is the 4th skier triggered avalanche in the area this week. The majority of natural avalanche activity continues to be loose dry releases out of steep gully features.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

The cold temperatures have facetted the surface snow, and sluffs can pick up mass and travel far. Big sluffs are possible if you are climbing in gullies with steep terrain above, or skiing steep lines. Heads up on solar aspects in particular.

The volume of sluffing could knock you over; choose your climb carefully and belay when exposed.Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Moderate winds have created hard windslabs in exposed alpine areas. In places, these sit on a layer of facets from the christmas cold snap and were reactive to skiier traffic in the Lake Louise Backountry on Jan. 2nd.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow. Avoid wind loaded terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2018 4:00PM