Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 19th, 2024 2:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada matt, Avalanche Canada

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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

An icon showing 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

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing 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

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 20th, 2024 4:00PM