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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 6th, 2024–Jan 7th, 2024

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

Regions

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

With some new snow and wind, sluffing is expected in extreme terrain and steep gully/couloir features. Watch for this if you are skiing or climbing in exposed terrain.

Continue to use caution in steeper terrain features due to the weak basal layers, and be prepared for colder temperatures in the next few days.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Some sluffing in steep cliffs/gullies has occurred with the arrival of new snow. Ski hills reported triggering small wind slabs up to size 1 in immediate lee areas with ski cutting and explosives, and a couple of size 1 slides stepping down to the basal facets. No natural avalanche activity has been observed but visibility has been limited.

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of storm snow has arrived with S-W winds creating some wind effect, sluffing and small wind slabs in exposed alpine and treeline areas. This new snow sits on a variety of surfaces (sun crusts, surface hoar, old wind slab) at treeline and above.

The mid-pack contains a couple of rain crusts which can be found as high as 2350 m in southern areas.

The base of the snowpack consists of a mix of weak facets and depth hoar.

Treeline snow depths range from 60-100 cm.

Weather Summary

A drying trend is expected on Sunday as the upslope flow gradually turns off. Snow flurries will taper off and the skies will gradually become partly cloudy from north to south during the day. Light to moderate northwesterly winds at ridgetop are expected. Treeline temperatures will be between -12°C and -20°C.

For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be cautious of sluffing.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.

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.