Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
Avalanche control on highway 93N Sunday, avoid travel on Hector, Andromache, Dolomite, Helen Lake trail, Observation, Silverhorn, Noyes and Waterfowl Lake Gullies. Dangerous avalanche conditions persist in the forecast region.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
15-25cm of new snow has developed a reactive storm slab at higher elevations, If triggered this layer has the potential to step down to deeper instabilities. Stick to non-avalanche terrain until things have a chance to settle
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
- The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
Avalanche Summary
Natural activity reported Saturday on Bourgeau Left, limited observations due to visibility but the powder cloud reached the Sunshine parking lot (suspect a size 3). Big avalanches with explosives over the last few days show that snowpack remains prime for triggering. Some avalanches ran full path and put dust or debris on roads.
Snowpack Summary
15-25cm of new snow and moderate winds have developed new storm slabs in the upper snowpack. The main concern in the snowpack continues to be the three persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets that are found between 50 and 100cm down. We continue to observe sudden test results, whumphing and large propagations on these layers.
Weather Forecast
Valley bottom temperatures will drop Saturday night with a slight inversion forecast for Sunday, alpine temps expected around -12 to -17. A brief break in precipitation Sunday will bring clears skies before another small system moves in Monday. Winds are expected to remain in the light to moderate range through Sunday.
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Three weak layers exist in the upper snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on the aspect and elevation. Destructive avalanches have occurred on these and will continue over the few days.