Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 12th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
Parks Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Watch for wind slabs that can be found in the alpine and steep, isolated locations at treeline.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, a field team in the Emerald slide path area was able to kick off very small wind slabs at treeline in extreme terrain and noted a natural size 2-2.5 wind slab on the SE face of Carnarvon (above Hamilton Lake). This had slid in the past 24 ish hours and appeared to have started as a cornice failure.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of new snow since Dec 7 has been blown into slabs in the alpine and isolated treeline locations. The recent snow sits on a layer of facets and surface hoar in some locations. Moist snow up to 2400m on steep solar aspects.
The mid-pack is generally strong; however, a weak facet layer can be found near the ground in shallow snowpack areas.
At treeline, average snowpack depth ranges from 120 to 150 cm and overall is deeper and stronger than it is East of the divide.
Weather Summary
Monday brings moderate NW alpine winds, temps from -4 to -9C at treeline and no new snow.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Extreme W to SW winds on Thursday night and up to 20cm of recent snow have developed slabs in lee alpine and isolated treeline terrain. These will be bigger in areas with more new snow and may run further than expected if they pick up facetted snow in steep gullied terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The snowpack is generally deeper and, thus, stronger in this Little Yoho subregion than in most of the BYK forecast region. However, thin snowpack areas, such as windward and exposed terrain, may have weak basal facets at the base of the snowpack, as is commonly found further east.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 13th, 2025 4:00PM
