Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 4th, 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

Temperatures should remain moderate over the next few days. Little precipitation and wind is forecast but winds may gust into the moderate range. Little short term change to the snowpack is expected.

Snowpack Summary

The surface snow is a mix of soft powder and wind effect in alpine areas. The recent cold temperatures have facetted much of the rest of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Small, loose, dry avalanches were noted today running in gullied terrain over ski tracks on Hwy 93 North.

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.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Moderate winds on Jan. 1st 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.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 5th, 2018 4:00PM