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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 11th, 2024–Jan 12th, 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, 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.

Its COLD.

If you choose to go out: think carefully about the consequences of an accident or equipment failure that could prevent you from moving to stay warm.

Bring extra clothing, extra equipment (like a sleeping bag and stove), choose extra low commitment terrain, and leave yourself extra time to get back to the car well before dark.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported on Thursday.

Wednesday, Lake Louise teams reported small ,soft slabs, to size 1.5 failing with explosives (20 of 24 shots) on NE alpine features that were 10-20cm deep. Some of these remotely triggered slabs in adjacent features. They also remotely triggered a small slab on a steep treeline feature that failed on a sun crust. Meanwhile, at Sunshine, teams reported a few small soft wind slabs on lee features.

Snowpack Summary

There is now 20-60 cm of snow forming a soft slab in some locations over the Dec 31 layer that is comprised of surface hoar in sheltered areas and a spotty sun crust on steep solar slopes at tree line and above.

The mid pack is supportive and contains two temperature or rain crusts (Dec. 22nd and Dec 5th) that reach as high as 2300m.

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

Treeline snow depths range from 80 -130 cm.

Weather Summary

The Arctic air fully asserts itself Thursday night: temperatures drop to near -40 C as skies clear and light to moderate winds continue out of the NE.

Expect gap winds in the main valleys such as the "Yoho Blow" to be in effect.

Friday, light to moderate winds will shift to the NW and temperatures reach a daytime high near -30 to -35C.

For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • If triggered, storm slabs in-motion may step down to deeper layers and result in very large avalanches.

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.