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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2025–Jan 4th, 2025

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 wind has had limited affect on the surface snow over the last week. If the wind picks up, expect the likelihood of initiation of dry loose avalanches to increase and windslabs to build quickly. Keep this in consideration when making travel plans.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Some small loose dry avalanches out of steep terrain.

In an adjacent region there was evidence of a large deep avalanche off of Mount Lefroy North East face was observed on Jan 3rd that we believe to be 24-48 hours old.

Snowpack Summary

25-45 cm unconsolidated snow makes up the surface of a 120-150 cm snowpack at treeline, and 140-175cm above treeline. The mid-pack is generally strong but a weak crust/facet layer may be near the ground. The distribution of this layer is specific to shallower areas. Conditions within the Little Yoho region are much better than areas further east in BYK. With the amount of snow available for transport, expect conditions to change quickly with any wind loading.

Weather Summary

Tonight: Cloudy. 60 percent chance of flurries overnight. Wind up to 15 km/h. Low minus 12. Wind chill minus 13 this evening and minus 18

Saturday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries early in the morning then a mix of sun and cloud. Wind becoming west 20 km/h near noon. High minus 8. Wind chill near minus 17

Sunday: Flurries. High minus 6.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • 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.

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.