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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2024–Jan 28th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

Freezing levels are going to rise dramatically over the next few days.

With a complex snowpack, and continued strong winds, challenging and complex avalanche terrain should be avoided.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine reported a natural avalanche from the Sunshine Landing's feature outside the resort. A 2500m North facing feature size 2 is suspected on the Dec 31 layer. They had one explosive result on the Westside chutes size 1.5 starting on the persistent layer and stepping down.

A climber fatally fell down the Aemmer Couloir Friday. The cause of the fall is unknown, possibly sluffing.

Bourgeau's left hand ran sz 2.5 on Thursday with a crown thought to be about 50cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

Hard and soft slabs have formed due to recent warming, strong winds, and small snow inputs. These slabs may overlie two weak layers: 1) Facets from the cold snap sit 10 to 30cm deep. 2) Surface hoar or a sun crust have been found in some areas below the facets 30 to 50cm deep.

The midpack offers some strength and features two crusts that persist as high as 2350m.

The lower part of the snowpack comprises weak facets and depth hoar.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night: Freezing levels will remain elevated overnight with continued strong winds with trace amounts of precipitation

Sunday: Strong to extreme southwest winds at ridgetop will blow across the Rockies. Up to 5cm of precip and freezing level to 2300m

Mon-Tues: Continued strong winds and freezing levels at ridgetop.

For more information, click here.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • The likelihood of deep persistent slab avalanches will increase with each day of warm weather.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.