Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 19th, 2024 2:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
matt,
Avalanche Canada
Increasing winds and temperatures are promoting new windslabs in the alpine and treeline. Tread carefully in freshly wind loaded areas.
Tomorrow is Alberta Park's Winter Safety Day! Be at Burstall Pass tomorrow at 11am for a taste of all things involving safety and winter. Free Hotdogs!!
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
A few small slabs and loose dry avalanches were noted from a couple of days ago up to sz2, but nothing new as of today.
Snowpack Summary
Winds picked up in all areas today, with the biggest impact being felt at treeline and above. Areas near, or on the divide saw significant wind transport. This has changed the distribution of windslabs to the more eastern aspects and increased their thickness to 5-20cm. With rising temperatures, these slabs will quickly build with all the available snow. Windslabs are resting on a variety of surfaces, but for the most part they can be summed up by being described as loose and facetted with a poor bond to the new windslabs. By tomorrow afternoon, windslabs could be touchy, and easy to trigger.
Weather Summary
Temperatures are expected to continue their upward push. Today saw a significant warming trend at Burstall Pass with a daytime high of -6. That will remain the overnight low, with another jump to a tropical -3 for Saturday's high. With the rising temps, expect SW winds to also pick up to the moderate range at ridgetops. Flurries will continue all day and bring a few centimeters to help freshen up the slopes.
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.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong winds today and overnight Friday will see continued slab development.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
This layer is getting getting buried deeper and deeper over time. The weight and amount of new snow is slowly increasing, which will increase the size of any potential avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 20th, 2024 4:00PM
