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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 7th, 2024–Jan 8th, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

A mild upslope has helped to freshen up the skiing. Valley bottom travel is still challenging, but at least there are some turns to be had.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Lots of sluffing out of steep cliffs, but no real avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

The forecasted winds and wind shift didn't seem to materialize today. The area saw mostly light winds with almost no wind transport. The only exception would be at peak heights where there was some moderate wind transport. With settlement, we have an optimistic 12-15cm on top of the old surfaces at treeline and alpine. In many areas it feels (and skis) like there's more because of the facetted nature of the snow. There are likely soft windslabs in immediate lee areas that should be monitored. As for the crust? Still no significant change.

Weather Summary

No snow for tomorrow. Cooler temperatures for the area, -17 as a low. (In a few days time, we'll look back at -17 and think how warm that would feel.) Light winds will remain for the first half of the week with hopefully minimal wind transport.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem will be with us all season. At higher elevations there is more concern that these deep persistent weak layers could be human triggerable.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Wind Slabs

There could be soft wind slabs that have developed near ridges, cols and summits. Watch for snow transport on ridges as a clue for the severity of this problem. Bottoms of big cliffs could also have slabs formed from spindrift.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2