Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 8th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
Parks Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Watch for fresh wind slabs. Rapid loading from wind could overload our weak and shallow snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Natural windslabs avalanches have been observed around the icefields area to size 1 from east aspects in the alpine. Also, there have been several loose dry avalanches from steep rocky terrain across the region.
Snowpack Summary
Windslabs have formed from moderate, gusting strong W-SW winds. Currently, the snowpack is averaging 60-120cm in depth at the treeline. 10-30cm sits atop a weakening melt freeze curst and surface hoar layer from early December. The middle of the snowpack is facetted and there is a deep persistent layer at the base of the snowpack consisting of an decomposing melt freeze crust and depth hoar.
Weather Summary
Thursday
Cloudy with sunny periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.
Ridge wind west: 15 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -7 °C.
Ridge wind west: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Watchout for possible reverse loading from forecasted NW winds.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 9th, 2025 4:00PM
