Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Dec 31, 2024 – Jan 1, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Be careful on steep, thin and rocky terrain, wind-slabs and small avalanches could step down and trigger full depth avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Weak facets and depth hoar near the base of the snowpack have caused avalanches 60-100 cm deep recently. A stiffer slab over the facetted snow can trigger larger avalanches that step down to the ground, especially on the eastern side of the region.

Weather Summary

A slight cooling trend is anticipated over the next couple of days, with temperatures reaching -8°C in the valley and -16°C at the ridge. Wind will remain light, coming from the West. Expect cloudy skies with very light snow accumulations on Tuesday and Wednesday, totaling less than 6 cm.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise patrol threw 9 shots and did not get any results. Sunshine patrol got some small size 1 wind slabs with explosives. The Parks Canada field team did not observe any avalanches in the Mt. Field area in Yoho.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of recent storm snow sit on top of wind slabs formed by last week's strong W/SW winds in the alpine. The mid and lower snowpack is faceted and weak, with facet/crust interfaces near the ground. This is more pronounced east of the divide, while western regions display a deeper more settled snowpack. Snowpack depths at tree-line are about 60 cm in eastern areas and 100 cm west of the divide.

Regions covered