Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2024–Jan 11th, 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.

The new snow has improved the skiing/riding quality, but the very cold temperatures are settling in!

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 or equipment failure if you decide to venture out.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise teams reported small soft storm slabs to size 1.5 failing with explosives on NE alpine features. Some remotely triggered small storm slabs in adjacent features. They also remotely triggered a small storm slab in a steep feature that failed on a sun crust on a treeline south aspect. Whereas at Sunshine, teams reported a few small soft wind slabs on lee features.

Snowpack Summary

We received 10-40 cm of snow in the past 24 hours (KNP greatest amounts). There is now 20-60 cm of snow over the Dec 31 layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas and a spotty sun crust that developed during an inversion over the holidays.

The mid pack is supportive and contains two crusts (Dec. 22nd and Dec 5th).

The base of the snowpack consists of weaker facets and depth hoar.

Treeline snow depths range from 80 -130 cm.

Weather Summary

Very light flurries Wednesday evening as the Arctic air descends and dominates for a few days.

Thurs: Light east winds. Temps -30. 1-2 cms snow in the am, then skies clear

Fri: Calm, sunny and super cold!! -35 to -40 C range

Sat: slightly warmer with highs -25C

Sun: possibly a slight inversion, highs around -20C

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.