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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 19th, 2024–Jan 20th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Carefully assess wind loaded features in the alpine and exposed areas of treeline. If triggered these layers could wake up the deeper layers of the snowpack.

Extreme terrain has been actively been producing small natural avalanches as well. Be mindful of the overhead hazard.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

Ski hills are reporting results on the basal facets up to size 3. Additionally, windslabs have been reactive to skier traffic as well as explosives up to size 1.

Within the last 24-48h there have also been numerous natural avalanches out extreme terrain to size 1.5, loose dry as well as windslabs.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snow have formed windslab's in the alpine and exposed areas of treeline. 30-50 cm overlies the Dec. 31 surface hoar/sun crust. Below this, in the mid-pack, two crusts (Dec. 22 and Dec. 5) exist as high as 2350m and have been providing the primary support for skiing. The base of the snowpack remains weak with depth hoar and facets.

Banff Visitor Safety dug a snow profile around Sunshine ski hill for more details.

Weather Summary

Saturday will bring scattered flurries and mod to strong SW winds. Valley bottom temperatures will rise to around -8.

Sunday should be slightly warmer than Saturday, with -6 as the high at valley bottom. 2-5 cm of snow is being forecast as well with strong southerly winds.

For more information, click here for the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.