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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 1st, 2024–Jan 2nd, 2024
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
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

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

While our snowpack may feel "supportive & positive," remember this consolidated nature of the upper and mid snowpack represents the slab over the untrustworthy weak basal layers.

Avoid steep or planar alpine or tree line features as these basal layers remain possible to trigger, especially from a thin spot of which there are many.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, a group of two on Observation Peak triggered and got caught by, a sz 2 slab that scrubbed the track to the ground.

On Wednesday, a group near Helen Shoulder remote triggered (from 30 m) a size 2 avalanche on the deep persistent layer.

Snowpack Summary

Trace amounts of new snow bury surface hoar below treeline and sun crusts on steep solar slopes treeline and above. Wind effect and old, hard-slab are found TL and above. A temperature crust from just before Christmas is now buried 10-20 cm below 1900m.

The mid-pack contains a rain crust which can be found as high as 2300m in southern areas.

The basal third of the snowpack consists of a mix of weak facets and depth hoar.

Treeline snow depths range from 60-100 cm.

Weather Summary

Isolated flurries are forecasted for Tuesday with moderate to strong westerly winds. Trace amounts are expected. Mild temperatures will persist with alpine highs around -7C and lows of -10C

For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snowpack is weak, comprising facets and depth hoar while the recent warm temperatures and winds have promoted the development of slab properties in the mid and upper snowpack. Trusting this inherently unstable snowpack structure in terrain with any consequence is a poor idea.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5