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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 30th, 2020–Dec 31st, 2020

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The odd windslab still lingers in alpine lee areas. The persistent and deep persistent problems may re-appear with incoming snow load on the weekend.

Weather Forecast

Very light snow expected Wednesday. Forecasted winds are extremely variable and uncertain in terms of velocity, but the flow will be Westerly. The ridge is expected to be roughly -10 and the valley -5. More significant snow, upwards of 20cm, is expected late Friday.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface conditions are soft, dry snow with isolated areas of wind effect at high elevations. The Dec 13 and Dec 7 sun crust/surface hoar/facet layers are down ~ 50cm and ~80 cm respectively and are strengthening. The decomposing Nov crust/facets sits at the bottom of the snowpack. Height of snow at tree line is 120-170cm.

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise patrollers reported triggering size 1 wind slabs in lee areas with explosives. Similarly, Sunshine patrollers we cutting small soft slabs out of immediate lee areas in the alpine. No other avalanches were observed or reported.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday

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.