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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2020–Jan 9th, 2020

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in alpine a tree-line locations. Conservative route choices are required.

Weather Forecast

An arctic high pressure forms over Alberta on Thursday bring cooler temperatures, and only minor flurries. Winds will diminish as the high pressure develops. Day time highs at treeline only rising to the mid minus teens. Cooler temps will persist through the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

20-40 cm of snow, and strong wind from last few days have formed fresh wind and storm slabs. At tree line, new snow sits on pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Generally, a settled mid-pack sits over a weaker lower snowpack consisting of facets, depth hoar and crusts.

Avalanche Summary

Fresh wind slabs (both natural and skier cut) up to size1.5 in the alpine reported throughout the area today.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.