Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Lake Louise.
Thursday looks to be warm and sunny, so watch your exposure on south aspects. Early season conditions remain with a thin snowpack, lots of variability in snow depth, and plenty of lurking hazards to hit.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Lake Louise ski area triggered one small windslab in steep alpine terrain today with explosives, otherwise, no new avalanches observed or reported. Minimal observations due to early season conditions.
Snowpack Summary
Lots of wind-affected surfaces in alpine and open treeline areas. The snowpack is thin with a breakable sun crust on steep south aspects and weak facets on north aspects. 40-70 cm of total snow at treeline throughout the region, with up to 120 cm in loaded alpine features. Below treeline, the snowpack is generally below the threshold for avalanches.
Weather Summary
Thursday looks to be warm and windy with clear skies and alpine winds in the strong to extreme range from the SW. Temperatures will start cool but will approach zero as the day warms. Friday will see the winds decrease into the moderate to strong range as snow arrives. Expect ~ 5-10 cm on Friday and again on Saturday as the drought finally comes to an end!
For more information specific to the forecast region, see https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong SW winds have created small, hard, wind slabs in isolated alpine terrain. These sit on a weak facetted base and, if triggered will likely entrain the facets below and run further than expected.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5