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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 11th, 2025–Jan 12th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Fresh wind slabs can be found in the alpine and in some locations at treeline.

We have noticed some small avalanches running further than expected as they gather facetted snow in the track.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A field team in the Takakaw Falls area on Friday saw limited amounts of wind-generated sluffing down the face of the Vice President originating at ridge crest. Visibility was limited.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of new snow since Dec 7 has been blown into slabs in the alpine and at treeline. The recent snow sits on a layer of facets and surface hoar that persists in isolated locations.

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 depths range from 120 to150 cm. The snowpack here is generally deeper and more consolidated than areas further east in the BYK region.

Weather Summary

Alpine winds shifted to the NW and became light to moderate Saturday. As a weak ridge forms Sunday, these winds will persist, skies will clear and temperatures will drop a few degrees to range between -8C and -12C near treeline.

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

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.