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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2023–Jan 26th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Akamina, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Warming temperatures and potential solar input could create small loose wet avalanches on steep low elevation south-aspect terrain.

Remember that avalanches in extreme terrain could produce extreme consequences.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in our region.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

At high elevations, wind slabs can be found on a variety of aspects. They overlie a melt-freeze crust that can be found up to 2100 m.

The mid-pack continues to settle and is well consolidated. Facets exist near the base of the snowpack. Total snowpack depth ranges between 85 to 115 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Increasing clouds, no accumulation, wind southwest 15 km/h and windier in the south, treeline temperatures -5 C.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods, trace accumulation to the south, wind southwest 22 km/h, treeline temperatures -4 C with freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Friday

Cloudy, up to 4 cm accumulation in the morning with another 6 cm coming late in the day, wind north 20 km/h.

Saturday

Cloudy with late day clearing, trace accumulation in the morning, wind northeast 20 km/h gusting to 30, treeline temperatures dropping to -20 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.