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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2023–Jan 17th, 2023

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, 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.

Regions

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

The snowpack is generally thin and weak throughout the region with western areas (deeper) giving more supportive travel conditions than eastern regions (shallower). Lots of bushes still limiting travel below treeline in Yoho and Kootenay. The deep persistent problem remains a real concern in the snowpack. Approach avalanche terrain cautiously.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported by the ski area control teams today, but a fresh size 2.5 deep persistent slab was observed in one of the Mt. Field avalanche paths facing the highway. The debris looked almost wet.

Snowpack Summary

3-7 cm of fresh snow by Monday morning gave a nice little refresh to the surface with no wind effect. The Dec 17 layer is down 25-50 cm and the Nov 16 deep persistent layer is 40-90 cm. Both of these layers continue to produce sudden failures in snowpack tests. In deeper snowpack areas like Little Yoho these two layers are deeper and more spread apart in the snowpack.

Weather Summary

A weak surface ridge of high pressure will keep skies partly cloudy across the region on Tuesday, with alpine temperatures reaching -2 with light winds and no measurable snow. Temperatures cool through mid-week, but otherwise, the weather will remain stable.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.

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.