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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2025–Feb 19th, 2025

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

Regions

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

We are in the last few days of Moderate/Low avalanche danger as the weather pattern is finally changing. Warming and flurries begin on Wednesday, but the real change comes over the weekend with 10-20 cm of snow along with warming; +5 in Banff by Saturday. Avalanche danger will begin rising later this week.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A fresh report just in of a fatal avalanche that occurred south of Golden on Monday. A small windslab on a north aspect at 2300 m carried one person a long way (1000 m) down a steep, confined gully with many terrain obstacles.

No new avalanches were reported or observed in the Banff, Yoho & Kootenay region, but Lake Louise forecasters report many people skiing aggressive lines.

Snowpack Summary

Aging wind slabs sit on top of the Jan 30 interface. Specific areas exposed to the wind may also have strastrugi. The mid-pack is generally weak facets, while depth hoar over a crust forms an even weaker base. The snowpack is the weakest in eastern areas where snow depths are low. In these areas, the basal weaknesses should be carefully considered.

Weather Summary

Say goodbye to the Arctic ridge of high pressure deflecting all the weather systems around us. Starting Wednesday, the ridge retreats and the warm-up begins with new snow arriving and temperatures reaching above zero in the valley by the weekend. It looks like only a few cm of snow on Wed and Thurs, but we may see 20-30 cm and rain in the valley bottom over the weekend.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.

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.