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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 5th, 2025–Jan 6th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

Good skiing can be found in much of the forecast region.

Take extra caution when traveling in thinner snowpack areas due to increased risk of triggering deep persistent avalanche.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few natural size 2 windslabs were observed in lee alpine terrain by our field team. We also received one report of a cornice triggered size 2 deep persistent avalanche in the Sunshine ski area backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm of low-density snow overlies a weak, faceted, mid and lower snowpack. Very weak depth hoar and facets associated with remnant crusts are found near the ground. 60-100cm of snow at treeline elevations.

Weather Summary

We’ll start the week with clear skies, light ridge-top winds, and freezing levels near the valley bottom on Monday. Clear skies will persist on Tuesday, though ridge winds will increase to strong. No precipitation is expected until the end of the week.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

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.