Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 15th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Wind slabs forming with light snowfall shouldn't get very big, but they may slide easily on the new crust. Older, larger wind slabs in the alpine above the crust elevation are a bigger concern.
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported in the region.
Share your observations to the Mountain Information Network!
Snowpack Summary
Light new snow amounts will continue burying a new surface crust that exists up to 1850 m in the Wells area. In higher alpine where the crust is absent, the new snow will bury recent wind slabs and otherwise wind-affected snow.
In sheltered areas, the crust has capped 20 -30 cm of recent snow sitting on a variety of layers, including surface hoar, crusts, and sugary facets. This layer will likely only be a concern above the elevation of the crust. Older wind slabs formed over this layer in the alpine may stay surprisingly reactive.
The middle and lower snowpack is generally strong with no weak layers of concern.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Cloudy with flurries bringing a trace of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Incoming weather will scour out the above freezing layer lingering around 2000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with light flurries bringing up to about 5 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, shifting northwest and easing. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with easing isolated flurries and a few cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 20 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Light new snow and elevated winds should form small new slabs, but the greater concern is in alpine areas where recent snow isn't capped by crust. Older, larger slabs from the last storm may still react to a human trigger.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 16th, 2025 4:00PM
