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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2025–Jan 26th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Beautiful weather for the weekend with an inversion setting up for Sunday-Monday, bringing warmer temperatures aloft. Watch for solar heating at upper elevations; there's some uncertainty about whether this will have a significant impact on the snowpack.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported in the forecast region today. On Friday a few natural windslabs were observed in the Ogden region to size 1.

Snowpack Summary

There has been widespread wind effect down into treeline in exposed areas.

Where the wind hasn't had an impact, the surface is a mix of facets and/ or sun crust, depending on your location. Below this, the mid-pack consists primarily of facets.

At the base of the snowpack lies a widespread, weak layer of depth hoar and a crust. It is dormant for now but should not be forgotten.

Snow depths at the treeline range from 60 to 100 cm.

Weather Summary

High pressure will dominate the forecast region for the next few days. Valley bottoms will see temps ranging from 0°C to -15°C. A temperature inversion will form at 3000m on Sunday, with temperatures staying around 0°C through Tuesday. Moderate north winds at ridge crest. Clear skies and warm alpine temps may lead to significant heating on south aspects.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected 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.