Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
Natural avalanches are tapering off, but human triggering is still a real possibility. If you choose to go into bigger terrain and trigger an avalanche it will likely involve the whole feature.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Lake Louise got a couple of avalanches up to size 2 with explosives today, with one possibly stepping down to the deeper facets. No other avalanches were reported.
Snowpack Summary
10-20cm of soft surface snow over a generally weak midpack. There are two persistent layers (Dec. 17 layer 25-60cm down, and a deeper layer of facets, depth hoar, and/or crust near the ground) that show variable results with snowpack tests.
Weather Summary
On Friday, scattered flurries and cloudy skies will occur near the continental divide. Strong SW winds of 50-60km/h will diminish to 30-40 km/h over the day, and freezing levels will remain at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
The bottom of the snowpack is very weak and faceted. Natural avalanche activity has lessened, but forecasters are still concerned about skier-triggered avalanches stepping down to this layer. Below treeline is mainly facets without a slab above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Persistent Slabs
Slabs 25-60cm thick sit over a Dec. 17 weak layer of facets that was on the surface during the prolonged deep freeze. Activity has slowed on this layer but once initiated could step down to deeper facet layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5