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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2024–Feb 4th, 2024

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

Regions

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

The snowpack has finally cooled off, but our persistent problems have not entirely left us.

Continue to use caution on larger slopes in the alpine and at treeline.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Ski hills are reporting easily triggering small loose dry avalanches, running on the recent crust up to size 1.

No new natural avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of new snow have greatly improved the ski quality. This snow sits on the recently formed crust, which is 2-5 cm's and has been supportive to travel as tempatures cool. The recently buried crust is widespread, except for north aspects above 2500m where dry snow still exists. The cool temps have improved the stability of the mid-pack, but the persistent problem and deep persistent problem are still with us. The bottom of the snowpack still consists of basal facets.

Weather Summary

Forecast's are calling for another 5-10 cm's overnight. Winds will remain strong through the evening out of the north/east. Winds should taper through the day on Sunday and return to a SW flow. Freezing levels are predicted to stay below valley bottom Sunday as the daytime high in the alpine is -7C. Overnight Sunday into Monday, we should see temperatures continue to cool to -10C.

For more mountain weather click HERE

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.