Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 24th, 2022–Jan 25th, 2022

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Lots of wind effect out there, but good riding can still be found in sheltered locations. Remember to consider the persistent layers beneath your feet!

Weather Forecast

A relatively benign period of weather over the next few days as we are under the influence of a high pressure system. Temperatues will be in the -5 to -15 range Tues/Wed with a drop in temperature on Thursday morning to ~ -20. Alpine winds will switch to SW and increase to moderate to strong for Tues/ Wed before decreasing on Thurs. No precip.

Snowpack Summary

Wind effect and wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree-line areas. New suncrusts steep solar. 20 to 40 cm of recent snow lies over a facet interface formed in late December. The Dec2 crust and facets are generally 60-100cm deep and continue to produce results in snowpack tests. Some thin snowpack areas have lingering basal depth hoar and facets.

Avalanche Summary

One small windslab was noted on a field trip in Little Yoho today. A size 1 triggered by sluffing out of steep alpine terrain. Otherwise, no new avalanches observed or reported on Monday

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have created windslabs in the alpine and some treeline locations. These slabs are now 3-4 days old and we expect their sensitivity to decrease however they may be more reactive where they overly facets.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

This problem represents both the Dec. 2nd crust/ facet layer (treeline and below) and layers of faceted snow that were formed during the late December cold snap (all elevations). If triggered, either layer could result in large avalanches.

Forecasters are operating with alot of uncertainty at this time.
If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3