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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2025–Jan 3rd, 2025

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

Regions

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

Incremental snowfall over the last week has brought storm snow up to 25cm depending on the location and elevation. This snow has generally been un-affected by the wind but expect wind-slab if it has.

Ice climbers be mindful of loose dry avalanches out of steep terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise ski patrol had two avalanches initiated with explosives up to size 1.5 on Jan 2nd. An estimated size 2 loose dry avalanche was reported off the Stanley Headwall.

Our team made a field trip to Cathedral Glades where they found an average snowpack depth of 75cm which was generally supportive to skis. They did not observe any new avalanches in the region.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm of new low density snow has fallen over the last week with no wind.

This new snow overlies a 60-80 cm snowpack that is entirely faceted, with weak, facet/crust interfaces near the ground.

This situation is not expected to change in the short-term, unless the wind comes up, in which case windslabs will form rapidly.

Weather Summary

Tonight: Cloudy with clear periods. Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h. Trace precipitation.

Friday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -7 °C. Ridge wind southeast: 15 km/h.

Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -8 °C. Ridge wind west: 15-25 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Problems

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.