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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2021–Jan 11th, 2021

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Conditions are generally good. However, there is still a degree of uncertainty about persistent slabs at tree line. Dig down to confirm before committing to your line.

Weather Forecast

Valley temperatures will approach zero on Tues and Weds while the alpine will hover around -10. Snow is expected to start on Tues. Models are conflicted on the amount. Expect anywhere between 15cm and 40cm. Despite the amount of snow we receive, we can expect the winds to be strong to extreme from the SW.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow totals are 20-50 cm at treeline. This sits on a spotty stellar/surface hoar layer in some locations. Wind effect in open areas in the alpine. Two weak layers from early Dec persist 50-100 cm down. These have been generally unreactive but still giving hard sudden planar results. The Nov. 5 basal crust/facets are currently dormant.

Avalanche Summary

Very little observed or reported avalanche activity today. Lake Louise patrollers managed to trigger a size 1.5 windslab in very steep unsupported terrain.

Confidence

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

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.