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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 30th, 2016–Dec 31st, 2016

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.

We still believe that it is easy to trigger avalanches in the alpine and at treeline. Choose your route carefully and be aware that conditions will change across a slope.

Weather Forecast

Light flurries forecasted saturday with a downward trend in temperatures starting saturday evening as another arctic flow arrives. Were expecting clear sky's and temperatures of -15 to -25 over the next few days.

Snowpack Summary

We have received 30-60 cm of new snow and strong winds this past week. This new snow sits over the Dec facet interface which continues to be touchy. Above tree line windslabs have develop creating another reactive interface near the surface of the snowpack. Avalanches triggered in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to deeper layers.

Avalanche Summary

Little avalanche activity was observed today. Lake Louise ski resort reported some natural activity releasing from recently developed windslabs in the alpine to sz 1.5.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.