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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2022–Jan 11th, 2022

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Avalanche Control is planned for Mt. Dennis in Yoho on Tuesday. The Mt Dennis intermittent avalanche closure zone is CLOSED on Tuesday Jan. 11th

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will be mild in the -5 to -10 range Tuesday and Wednesday and gradually warming into Thursday with freezing levels approaching 1800m. Winds will be strong from the SW throughout before easing on Thursday afternoon. Forecasted snowfall amounts vary widely, but generally 5-10 cm on Tuesday with an additional 15-30 cm on Wed/Thurs

Snowpack Summary

Previous strong SW winds have created wind effect and some stubborn windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. The Dec 2 crust/facet interface is down 60-100 cm, and the snowpack is very faceted in shallower areas.

Avalanche Summary

A heli-bombing mission with explosives today in Kootenay National Park produced limited results. Generally thin, small slabs or no results with some evidence of avalanches gouging down to facets in the tracks at lower elevations. Two results in the Simpson area were deeper, initiating ~ 2200m on the Dec. 2nd crust and running up to size 2.5.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.