Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 19th, 2025–Jan 20th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

Wind slabs remain the primary concern and will lingered for longer than usual in the cold temperatures. Steer clear of alpine and treeline areas that have been affected by wind or have been loaded.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control near Parkers on Friday (Jan 17) produced wind slab avalanches up to size 2.5. Some of these avalanches stepped down to the Deep Persistent layer. Natural windslab avalanches at treeline and in the alpine have also been observed over the last few days.

Snowpack Summary

10-15 cm of previous storm snow has widespread wind affect from strong to extreme winds. The middle of the snowpack is facetted and there is a deep persistent layer at the base of the snowpack consisting of a decomposing melt freeze crust and depth hoar. The snowpack is 70-130 cm in depth at tree line. Valley bottom is thin and has weak, loose facets which can make for difficult travel.

Weather Summary

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperature: High -13 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperature: Low -16 °C, High -13 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Wednesday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -9 °C. Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

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.

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.