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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 28th, 2023–Jan 29th, 2023

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 possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Arctic air and wind chill will persist over the next couple of days. Expect fresh wind slab development with incoming strong North winds.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Forecasters at the Ogden benches Saturday saw evidence of wind slab activity out of the steep face on Mt. Ogden, with a size 2 stepping down to a deeper weak layer. Those were probably 48 hours old. Another team at observation peak saw a size 2, deeper release which was likely over 48 hours old. Lake Louise ski hill got many size 1-1.5 wind slab avalanches with explosive control.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of new snow over the past couple of days is being blown into wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine. Below this, the upper snowpack contains weak layers 20-40 cm deep (Jan. 4th) and 30-60 cm deep (Dec. 17th) that are generally unreactive. The Nov 16 deep persistent layer is down 40-90 cm and continues to produce variable test results. In areas west of the divide, these layers are generally deeper and more spread apart in the snowpack.

Weather Summary

On Sunday, expect North winds 50-60km/h diminishing to 30km/h and -20C to -25C. Continued cold temperatures on Monday then slowly warming through the week.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

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.