Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 23rd, 2024–Jan 24th, 2024

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

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

The snowpack still needs time to heal. Approach all avalanche terrain with caution and expect human triggered avalanches. Now is the time to find low angled skiing.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new has been reported or observed. The snowpack has been unstable in the last few days with reports of wet loose slides, avalanches, whumphing, cracking and settlements. This will likely continue for the next few days. Check out the MIN reports at: https://avalanche.ca/map

Snowpack Summary

Warmer weather continues to settle the upper snowpack into denser snow. Expect to find reactive wind slabs and settled snow up to 30cm thick at treeline and above. These slabs are reacting on the faceted layer formed by the recent cold spell. The Dec 5th crust can be found in the lower third of the snowpack and could wake up with the warmer temps and produce larger avalanches, especially triggered from thinner areas. Now is a good time to step back and let nature take care of the snowpack with the warmer weather.

Weather Summary

Continued Chinook like conditions with warm temperatures will prevail for another day. Wednesday will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a high of -5c. Ridge winds are expected to be 35km/h from the SW, along with a freezing level of 1600m.

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.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent strong winds have formed windslabs in alpine and treeline areas. The warm temps have settled the loose snow into a denser layer (slab).

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