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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 21st, 2021–Dec 22nd, 2021

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The solid conditions of the last few days will change starting Tuesday night as a new storm brings 20 cm of snow and strong winds over the next few days, tapering just in time for the Christmas deep freeze.

Weather Forecast

A low pressure system caught up in a NW flow is crossing the region and bringing strong winds and new snow starting Tuesday evening. Expect 10 cm by the end of day Wednesday and up to 20 cm by Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds combined with 10 cm of overnight new snow will create a windslab problem for Wednesday, most notable in the Lake Louise/Bow Summit area. There is 40-60 cm over the Dec 2 rain crust which exists below 2200 but is not yet active. The lower snowpack is well settled but shallow areas (<100 cm) may still have a DPS issue near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Both SSV and LL ski are report thin windslab formation from strong winds on Tuesday, up to size 1.5. Also noted a ~48-hr old unusual size 2 avalanche at 2000m on Tumbling Peak in a very shallow snowpack area. Looked like someone may have taken a nasty ride.

Confidence

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.