Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 24th, 2018 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

grant statham, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The snowpack is stabilizing after last week's storm, aided by Tuesday's cold temperatures and calm air. This trend should continue through the week, but with several buried weak layers persisting - keep your head up still. Merry Christmas everyone!

Summary

Weather Forecast

Christmas Eve looks like a nice night for Santa to fly. Clear skies with remnants of a full moon should help. Christmas day looks to have a mix of sun and clouds with some light flurries in the afternoon. Temperatures ranging from -10 to -18 across the region with light winds out of the west.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack has doubled since Dec 10, and is slowly stabilizing after last week's storm cycle. Deeper snowpack areas continue to show the Dec 10 SH layer down 60-80 cm with hard, but sudden column test results. In shallow snowpack areas, the basal facets are producing easy collapse test results and should not be trusted.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed today on Highway 93 North area.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem dominates the central and eastern part of the forecast region and will continue to do so for some time. Continue to avoid large, open avalanche prone slopes at treeline and in the alpine as these cannot yet be trusted.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Persistent Slabs

The Dec 10 surface hoar and facets can be found 40-80 cm down in the deeper (western) parts of the forecast region. The layer is stabilizing, but continues to be a concern at at in treeline gladed areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Dec 25th, 2018 4:00PM