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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 14th, 2024–Dec 15th, 2024

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

Areas east of the divide have a weaker, thinner, more facetted snowpack, while areas along the divide and further west have a slightly thicker snowpack that is more supportive and a little more confidence inspiring.

At lower elevations in all areas the snowpack is still thin with difficult travel and early season hazards present.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported on Friday or Saturday.

Earlier in the week, ski hills have triggered isolated wind slabs and a number of deep persistent avalanches with explosives, but there has been an improving trend.

Snowpack Summary

Trace amounts of precip Saturday overlies windslabs in wind-prone alpine areas and in sheltered locations, 10-40 cm of soft snow that sits on a layer of facets, suncrust. Below this it is facetted and weak in eastern areas; and deeper and denser in western areas. Two crust/facet layers exist at the bottom of the snowpack (Nov. 9th and Oct. 20th interfaces). Total snowpack depths at treeline are about 60 cm in eastern areas with up to 100 cm in thicker western areas

Weather Summary

Tonight:Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.Precip: Trace.Alpine temps: Low -9 °C.Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Sunday:Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.Precip: Trace.Alpine temperature: High -10 °C.Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday:Cloudy with sunny periods.Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -12 °C.Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.

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.

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.