Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2021–Jan 23rd, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies.

 Practice good travel habits and watch for wind slabs in steep alpine terrain.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern; little change is expected for several days.

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear skies, light northwest wind, treeline temperatures drop to -18 C.

SATURDAY: Sunny, moderate west wind, treeline temperature around -12 C.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries in the afternoon, light west wind, treeline temperatures around -12 C.

MONDAY: Isolated flurries with a trace amount of snow, light wind, treeline temperatures around -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Alpine and upper treeline terrain is heavily wind affected, while a hard crust is found below 1800 m. A solid mid-pack sits above some decomposing crust and facet layers near the bottom of the snowpack (100-150 cm deep). Avalanche activity on these layers has been sporadic, mostly triggered by large loads such as wind slab avalanches and cornice falls. These layers should be unreactive under the current conditions, but steep rocky slopes should still be carefully assessed and approached with caution.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

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.