Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 31st, 2016–Jan 1st, 2017

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

With cold temperatures approaching expect upper snowpack instabilities to become less reactive. Keep in mind that the persisted problem will take some time to heal.

Weather Forecast

One last pulse of snow is expected tomorrow bringing 3-5cm to the Bow Valley. As the approaching high pressure system moves in temperatures are expected to drop with highs around -15 and lows in the mid -20's.

Snowpack Summary

We have received 30-60 cm of new snow and strong winds this past week. This new snow sits over the Dec facet interface which continues to be touchy. Above tree line windslabs have develop creating another reactive interface near the surface. With approaching cold temps , upper snowpack instabilities are expected to become less reactive.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches observed today, better visibility confirm the recent cycle with numerus avalanches to size 2.5 . Lake louise reported numerus avalanches to size 2 and one size 2.5 triggered with explosives today. Avalanches were initiated in the windlsab problem and stepped down to deeper instabilities.

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.