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

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 29th, 2021–Jan 30th, 2021
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
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
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The avalanche hazard will start to increase Saturday afternoon as the winds pick up and start blowing the recent storm snow around. Plan to be out of steep climbing gullies and couloirs before this change occurs.

Weather Forecast

Not much change Friday night and Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon the alpine wind starts to increase into the 40-60 km/hr range which will start moving the recent snow around. Treeline temperatures will start around -10'C and warm slightly in the afternoon with the arrival of the wind to the -4 to -7'C range. 

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of storm snow with the most in the southern areas. The storm snow sits over facets in sheltered areas and over previous wind effect in exposed alpine and tree line areas. The mid-pack is well settled with the various persistent weak layers visible in the snowpack but unreactive to stability tests. The Nov crust/facets are near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Some small loose dry avalanches observed in very steep alpine terrain with a couple small thin slabs in wind prone areas. Surface sluffing in steep ski terrain.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Sunday

Avalanche Problems

Loose Dry

10 to 20 cm of storm snow is sitting on a facetted interface and has the potential to sluff easily in steep terrain. This problem is most pronounced in confined gullies and couloirs and the hazard will increase as the winds increase on Saturday.

  • On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.
  • Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Wind Slabs

As the winds increase on Saturday afternoon the recent storm snow will get blown around forming wind slabs in lee areas of the alpine. This problem will increase with more snow and wind over the following couple of days.

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2