Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
Moderate danger means heightened avalanche conditions where human triggered avalanches are possible. Be cautious when traveling in complex terrain.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
The Dec 15 layer continues to cause some uncertainty with forecasters. Few avalanche observations have been reported on this instability, though widespread cracking and whumphing is still occurring when traveling in the backcountry.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
Minimal avalanche activity reported today, Lake Louise ski patrol reported small skier triggered windslabs from loaded pockets at ridge crest.
Snowpack Summary
Newly formed windslabs on immediate lees at alpine and treeline elevations. In sheltered areas the upper snowpack consist of 20-30cm of soft slab over the Jan 6 surface hoar, this layer has been reactive in test results. The Dec 15 layer is still a concern 40-60 cm down. Much of the snowpack is facetted with little structure below treeline.
Weather Forecast
Trace amounts of precipitation expected through the weekend, winds will remain in the light to moderate rang and temperatures steady between -8 to -12.
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Recent snow and accompanying winds have created windslabs at alpine and treeline elevations. Due to variable winds in the alpine expect the spacial distribution of this problem to be widespread.