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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 22nd, 2025–Feb 23rd, 2025

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

Regions

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

A series of storms will affect the region starting Saturday evening. Although recent models have backed off the forecast snowfall amounts, the avalanche hazard will rise into Sunday and may increase further into the start of the week.

If more snow arrives than has been forecast expect the hazard to increase rapidly.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Another close call to the north of Golden occurred Friday. Skiers triggered a sz 2 slab at 2150m 30cm deep and 30m wide on a west aspect that buried one skier.

A fatal avalanche occurred south of Golden on Monday. A small windslab on a north aspect at 2300 m carried one person a long way (1000 m) down a steep, confined gully with many terrain obstacles.

We are anticipating an avalanche cycle starting Saturday night with the incoming storms.

Snowpack Summary

The new snow will bury a significant drought layer. Surface faceting is the dominant condition with extensive wind effect found in the alpine. Sun crusts have formed on steep solar slopes and surface hoar has developed in sheltered areas.

The mid-pack is generally weak facets, while depth hoar over a crust forms an even weaker base. The snowpack is the weakest in eastern areas where snow depths are low. In these areas, the basal weaknesses should be carefully considered.

Weather Summary

A warm front will pass over the region late Saturday afternoon. We expect 5-15cm overnight with continued strong SW winds in the alpine. Freezing levels will drop from near 2000m to valley bottom.

Sunday morning a cold front will pass. Up to another 5cm of snow is expected by mid day as freezing levels return to around 2000m.

The next system arrives Sunday night with another 5-10cm of snowfall forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.