Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 25th, 2024 1:45PM

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.

matt, Avalanche Canada

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

So far the warm weather is helping the upper layers settle and become less reactive. But remember, this could change quickly with sun exposure, or warmer than predicted weather.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new has been reported or observed.

Snowpack Summary

The top 30cm of the snowpack is either made up of settled snow or wind slab and is overlying 5-15cm of facets. These wind slabs were found at treeline and above and produced some cracking when travelling uphill. The January 8th facet/crust surface hoar layer is down about 25-30cm and is getting better as the warmth sinks in. Having said that, there was some whumphing today in flat areas below treeline. There's a 20cm thick layer of facets beneath the Jan 8th interface that we think is the culprit for the cracking/whumphing and recent avalanches. Deeper yet, we still have the well behaved Dec 5th crust hanging in there.

Weather Summary

Is it April already? Another warm day tomorrow, expect a forecasted high of -4, but also expect that to off a bit. Freezing levels have crept up to almost 1900m lately. Flurries might give us a few centimeters at most. Winds? Light, but gusty from the SW all day.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

This wind slab is found at treeline and above and is up to 30cm thick.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

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

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 26th, 2024 4:00PM