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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2025–Jan 17th, 2025

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Mt. Bosworth avalanche closure zone is CLOSED on Thursday, January 16th.

High elevation winds have been strong to extreme for the last week, so be on the lookout for windslabs if venturing into high, windy spots.

It's been weeks since a deep slab has occurred, but a weak snowpack persists in shallow areas - ski the thick, avoid the thin.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Thursday morning, size 2 wind triggered slab and loose dry avalanches were observed in Little Yoho on Mt. Stephen and Mount Field. One size 1.5 windslab on an alpine SE aspect on Bow Peak.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of snow in the last week has been blown into slabs in high alpine areas. At treeline and below, a surface sun crust exists on steep south aspect. This recent snow sits on a layer of facets and surface hoar in some locations, although we haven't seen many avalanches sliding on this layer yet. The mid-pack is generally strong; however, a weak facet layer can be found near the ground in shallow snowpack areas. At treeline, average snowpack depth ranges from 120 to 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday, we expect strong to extreme SW winds accompanied by up to 5 cm new snow.

On Friday, we will see cooling temperatures and easing winds as arctic air moves in for the weekend.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.

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.