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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2024–Jan 24th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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

East Kakwa, Tumbler.

Continued southwest wind has built wind slabs on north and east aspects.

Lower elevations have a shallow snowpack

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Last Thursday in the Bullmoose area; small windslabs of varying ages (some fresh and some old and hard) were reported. See photos here.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Another 10-15 cm of snow fell over the weekend making 20-30 cm of recent soft snow on the surface. In places it is heavily wind affected and sits above a variety of old snow surfaces including wind-scoured snow and faceted snow. At treeline and below, the recent snow sits on a widespread crust and pockets of surface hoar.

The snowpack is shallow and faceted with multiple crusts. Pockets of deeper snow may be found near ridges, gully features, and established avalanche paths. Average snowpack depths at treeline are between 60 and 100 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mix of sun and cloud, southwest alpine wind 40-50 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C, with an above freezing layer from 1000-1400 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud, southwest alpine wind 30-60 km/h, treeline temperature 1 °C, with an above freezing layer from 900-1500 m.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud with flurries, west alpine wind 50-60 km/h, treeline temperature 1 °C, with a freezing level up to 1400m.

Friday

Mostly sunny, southwest alpine wind 40 km/h, treeline temperature 2 °C, with a freezing level up to1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avalanche danger is often elevated in alpine gullies where snow has accumulated.

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.