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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 11th, 2018–Jan 12th, 2018

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The snowpack has almost reached tipping point - but not quite - with 40cm of soft snow overlying the Dec 15 weak layer (surface hoar & facets) we just need a slight change to the overlying slab density to have an avalanche cycle. Be careful!

Weather Forecast

Friday will continue to be cold and clear with overnight lows of -20 and daytime highs reaching -13. No precipitation in the forecast for Friday and winds will be light from the northwest.

Snowpack Summary

30 cm of low density snow has fallen over the past 5 days with limited wind effect except near alpine ridge crests. There is now a total of 30-50 cm overlying the Dec 15 persistent weak layer which is becoming reactive at treeline and above. We are closely monitoring the overlying slab properties and watching for the snow to become more dense.

Avalanche Summary

A solo backcountry skier triggered a size 2 avalanche on Richardson's Ridge today outside the Lake Louise Ski Resort boundary - this was a treeline area with a shallow snowpack. As well, numerous small windslabs were observed to have run over the past 48 hours during the recent storm.

Confidence

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.

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.