Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Jan 5 – 6, 2018Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The danger may be elevated in steep terrain and gully features, especially on solar aspects if the sun is out. Loose dry snow is sluffing fast and far and can knock you off or bury you in a terrain trap.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Moderate winds on Jan. 1st created hard windslabs in exposed alpine areas. In places, these sit on a layer of facets from the christmas cold snap and were reactive to skiier traffic in the Lake Louise Backountry on Jan. 2nd.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The cold temperatures have facetted the surface snow, and sluffs can pick up mass and travel far. Big sluffs are possible if you are climbing in gullies with steep terrain above, or skiing steep lines. Heads up on solar aspects in particular.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures should remain moderate over the next few days. Little precipitation and wind is forecast  but winds may gust into the moderate range. Little short term change to the snowpack is expected.

Snowpack Summary

The surface snow is a mix of soft powder and wind effect in alpine areas. The recent cold temperatures have facetted much of the rest of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Small, loose, dry avalanches were noted today running in gullied terrain over ski tracks on Hwy 93 North.

Confidence

Regions covered