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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2022–Jan 2nd, 2022

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

A combination of strong to extreme winds and new snow will likely increase the sensitivity of wind slabs and initiate loose dry avalanche in steep terrain.

Weather Forecast

As the BC low moves into Alberta, strong to extreme winds will dominate through the forecast region. By Saturday night we will begin to see snow fall, forecasted accumulation amount very from 10 to 25cm by Monday. Thankfully temperatures will continue to climb through till Monday with valley bottom highs near -10.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds are transporting faceted surface snow at upper elevations, forming hard slabs on lee slopes. There is 50-70cm over the Dec 2 crust/facet combo which exists below 2200m and appears to be waking up as a persistent weak layer. Shallow areas (<100cm) have weaker basal facets which also present cause for concern as temperatures rise.

Avalanche Summary

There was a skier triggered size 2 avalanche in Kootenay NP Thursday. This appears to have been on the Dec. 2nd crust/facets. A few other avalanche obs in Kootenay appear to have released on the same interface. Strong winds today have likely increase the natural avalanche activity at upper elevations.

Confidence

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.

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.

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.