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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2021–Dec 30th, 2021

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

The deep freeze will continue for another couple of days. When planning, factor in greater margin to mitigate prolonged exposure to extreme cold. Otherwise watch for wind slabs up high. Excellent ski quality.

Weather Forecast

The frigid and stagnant air mass will persist until Friday when there is some respite with a slight warming trend. With the slight warming trend expect the wind to pick up into the strong range from the west. A few centimeters of snow is expected on the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

10-40 cm of snow last week with wind from various directions has developed small wind slabs mainly in the alpine but also in isolated treeline areas. There is 50-70 cm over the Dec 2 crust/facet combo which exists below 2200m. This has not been an active problem yet but we are monitoring it closely. Shallow areas (<100 cm) have weaker basal facets

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise patrollers were able to ski cut size 1 loose dry avalanches in steep tree line terrain features. Sunshine patrollers observed a size 2 cornice triggered avalanche on Mt. Brett that entrained loose snow, no slab.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Wednesday

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.