Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 17th, 2025 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

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Gaining elevation to escape the crust may put you in terrain where avalanche danger exists. Manage your exposure carefully if you reach areas of deeper, wind transported snow.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported in the region.

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Snowpack Summary

A few cm of new snow has done little to bury crust that exists up to 1850 m in the Wells area. You may find it 5 - 15 cm deep. In areas on the higher end of this range, new wind slabs may be large enough to require more cautious management.

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 is a concern above the elevation of the crust. Wind slabs formed over this layer in the alpine may be reactive.

The middle and lower snowpack is generally strong with no weak layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. 10 to 15 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline overnight low around -13 °C.

Saturday

Mainly sunny with cloud increasing. 10 to 20 km/h variable, mainly north ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -11 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 15 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -12 °C.

Monday

Mainly sunny. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature around -9 °C with a possible temperature inversion.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New wind slabs exist in exposed terrain in areas where more than a few cm of new snow accumulated in Thursday's storm. The greater the depth and slab properties of the new snow, the greater the hazard.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 18th, 2025 4:00PM

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