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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2024–Jan 10th, 2024

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.
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.

Recent snow has refreshed ski quality in many areas, but the cold temperatures are coming!

Extreme cold magnifies the consequence of an accident. Choose lower risk terrain, bring extra clothing, and leave yourself extra daylight hours to deal with an accident if you decide to venture out.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise snow safety reported some small wind slabs up to size 1 out of steep alpine terrain and some small windloaded pockets in treeline terrain. Sunshine snow safety triggered two size 2's with explosives in steep alpine lee terrain.

Parks forecasters saw some cracking in treeline wind affected terrain but no reactivity.

Weather Summary

Wednesday will be the last day of bearable temperatures before the extreme cold sets in on Thursday.

Wed: Light to moderate west winds. Temps ~ -15 cooling to -20 through the day. 2-5 cms snow.

Thurs: Light east winds. Temps -30. 1-2 cms snow

Fri: Calm, sunny and really cold!!

For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • 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.