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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2023–Apr 24th, 2023

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

Regions

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

Some precipitation is expected overnight. If more snow falls than anticipated, monitor how the snowpack adjusts to the new load. Also, keep the deep slab at the forefront of your mind as the problem will only go away when the snow is gone.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A size 3 skier-triggered avalanche occurred on Saturday afternoon size 3 skier-triggered avalanche occurred in a closed area within the Lake Louise ski resort. Two people were caught. One was partially buried and survived. One was fully buried and did not survive. The avalanche was reported to be 200 m wide and 550 m long with a crown depth of 40-50 cm.

Snowpack Summary

Almost daily accumulations of new snow are competing with new sun crust formation on solar aspects with multiple buried crusts present in the upper snowpack. On northerly aspects, up to 40cm of recent snow remains preserved with buried temperature crusts as high 2200m. The basal snowpack remains weak with facets and depth hoar.

Weather Summary

About 5cm of snow is expected overnight, Freezing levels will be about 2100m so expect this in the form of rain at the valley bottom. Wind should be light to moderate from the SW.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.