Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2025–Jan 27th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Above freezing temperatures are forecasted for higher elevations over the next couple days. Carefully consider the over head hazard of your trip, especially if it is exposed to the sun.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Two relatively fresh size two slab avalanches were observed on the steep south facing aspects of Nigel Peak late in the afternoon of Jan 25.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind effect at alpine and treeline has formed wind slabs over a weak faceted mid pack. At the bottom of the snowpack are the early season crusts, which are faceting and often surrounded by large depth hoar. The snowpack is 70-130 cm in depth at treeline, and thins quickly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Monday

Sunny

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High 2 °C.

Ridge wind west: 10-30 km/h.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -6 °C, High 0 °C.

Ridge wind west: 10-30 km/h.

Wednesday

Sunny with cloudy periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -7 °C, High -4 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.

Problems

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.