Avalog
Register
Get forecast notifications
Create an account to receive email notifications when forecasts are published.
Register
Login
Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 24th, 2024–Dec 25th, 2024
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
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: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Happy Holiday's everyone. Travel safe. Tangle weather station registered gusting 100km/hr winds and Maligne area is forecast to have steady high elevation 70 km/hr winds Tuesday to Thursday.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No patrol occurred Monday or Tuesday and nothing new reported. Over the weekend the ski hill using explosives triggered two size 1.5 deep persistent avalanches and a small windslab. Lake Louise skihill to the South has been consistently explosive triggering windslabs size 1.5-2.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme winds have redistributed surface snow and scoured windward aspects. Sheltered locations may still hold 15cm of soft snow if winds did not get to it. In protected areas, a weak layer of 7mm Surface Hoar may be 10-30cm down. The mid-lower snow pack has multiple layers of crusts and facets with one being near the ground.

Weather Summary

Icefield's area on Christmas day will be cloudy, flurries, -8 °C, SW winds 20 gusting to 60 km/h. Boxing day may bring similar weather with SW 15 gusting 40 km/h winds. Friday will be much the same as Thursday. Of note, Maligne could be blowing steady 40-70km/hr at upper elevations Wednesday to Thursday morning.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent snow and strong winds have created wind slabs. More winds are expected Tuesday and Wednesday particularly in the Maligne lake area at upper elevation. Avoid wind loaded unsupported terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for along time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3