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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2024–Jan 18th, 2024

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

5-7cm of snow provides a bit of a Rockies refresh for ski conditions, but it overlies wind slabs that are still possible to trigger. It will be a cold day on Thursday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise and Sunshine ski hills reported explosive controlled avalanches of wind slabs to size 1-1.5 today. No other avalanches were reported.

Snowpack Summary

5-7cm over the last 24 hours overlies previous wind effect and wind slabs at treeline and above. 30-40 cm overlies the Dec. 31 surface hoar/sun crust. Below this, in the mid-pack, two crusts (Dec. 22 and Dec. 5) exist as high as 2350m and have been providing the primary support for skiing. The base of the snowpack remains weak with depth hoar and facets as the snowpack is well below average. Click here for a profile done today at Dolomite shoulder

Weather Summary

Thursday - North winds will switch to light S/SW. No snow is expected; low temperatures are close to -30C, and highs are -17C. The skies should be mainly clear and the sun out.

Friday- Winds will increase into the strong range from the SW with slightly warmer temperatures and a trace of snow.

Temperatures will continue to warm over the weekend.

For more information, click here for the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.

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.

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.