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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 12th, 2024–Dec 13th, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.

Field teams over the last couple of days have noted a big difference between snowpacks west of the divide and those east of the divide. Although it is still thin at lower elevations in both areas, the snowpack is much thicker and more confidence inspiring at treeline and above if you are in a thicker, western area.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise threw a bunch of explosives with minimal results today. Over the past few days, similar explosives have triggered isolated wind slabs and a number of deep persistent avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Windslabs exist in exposed and wind-prone alpine. In sheltered areas, soft snow sits on a layer of facets, suncrust and isolated surface hoar. Below this, the midpack is thin, weak in eastern regions, and deeper and denser in areas west of the divide. Two crust/facet layers exist near the bottom of the snowpack (Nov. 9th and Oct. 20th interfaces). Total snowpack depths at treeline are generally 60cm in eastern areas with up to 100 cm in thicker western areas

Weather Summary

Light winds, treeline temperatures around -8C, and only a trace of snow for Thursday. See image below for more details.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Two weak layers near the base of the snowpack (Oct 20 and Nov 9) are producing slab avalanches down about 60-100 cm. Surface windslabs have the potential to step down to this layer. This layer has been most reactive in steep, thin, wind affected areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

Moderate SW/W winds during the storm have created wind slabs in lee features in the alpine. Activity has tapered, but we are uncertain how prevalent the problem is.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2