Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 29th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
Parks Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Extreme wind speeds from the west are creating new wind slabs and difficult skiing conditions.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several natural wind slab avalanches to size 2 as well as smaller loose dry avalanches were observed in the Icefields area on January 29th.
Snowpack Summary
A variety of surface conditions exist depending on location, including melt freeze crusts, sun crusts, hard wind slabs, and soft faceted snow. These overlie a generally weak and faceted mid-pack. At the bottom of the snowpack are the early season crusts, which are faceting and surrounded by large depth hoar. The snowpack is 70-130 cm in depth at tree line, and thins quickly below.
Weather Summary
Thursday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -9 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 15-30 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Cloudy with scattered flurries.
Accumulation: 5 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -7 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 15-35 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Extreme wind speeds may have formed windslabs lower in the terrain than is typical.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 30th, 2025 4:00PM
