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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2025–Jan 2nd, 2025

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

Incremental snowfall over the last week has brought storm snow up to 20cm depending on the location and elevation. This snow has generally been un-affected by the wind but expect wind-slab if it has.

Ice climbers be mindful of loose dry avalanches out of steep terrain.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Lake Louise and Sunshine reported numerous loose dry size 1's from ski cutting and explosive control on Jan 1st. A size 2 loose dry on Mount Wymper in the last 24-48 hours was also reported by our road patrol. Otherwise no new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of new low density snow has fallen over the last week with no wind.

This new snow overlies a 60-80 cm snowpack that is entirely faceted, with weak, facet/crust interfaces near the ground.

This situation is not expected to change in the short-term, unless the wind comes up, in which case windslabs will form rapidly.

Weather Summary

Tonight: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15-30 km/h.

Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: High -12 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15-30 km/h.

Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -5 °C. Ridge wind south: 10 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Problems

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.