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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 6th, 2020–Jan 7th, 2020

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Timing of the incoming storm is still uncertain, but be aware that as snow accumulation intensifies the avalanche hazard will quickly increase.

Weather Forecast

A cold front moving in will bring more precipitation to the region, expect accumulation values between 15-30cm by Wednesday. This new snow will arrive with threshold wind values for snow transport. By the end of the week an arctic air mass will move in bringing cold temps and clear skies.

Snowpack Summary

20-40 cm of storm snow, strong Westerly winds and mild temperatures is promoting storm and wind slab formation. At tree line, new snow sits on pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Generally, the upper snowpack of denser snow sits over a weaker lower snowpack consisting of facets, depth hoar and crusts.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control Monday produce numerus results up to size 3. The majority of the avalanche activity released from upper snowpack instabilities. One deep persistent slab was triggered from a slope that had no previous avalanche control on it, resulting in a size 3 with 1.5m crown. Limited natural avalanche activity was observed.

Confidence

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.