Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada AB, Avalanche Canada

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Sustained strong wind (SW) is in the forecast which will continue to distribute snow and create wind slabs at tree-line and above. Be especially cautious in lee areas.

Summary

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Three wind slabs up to size 1.5 were observed from the Akamina Parkway today (Jan 30). They likely occurred within the last 24 hours.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong, variable wind has redistributed recent storm snow (20cm near the Divide and 40-50cm in the Eastern park) into wind slabs. This overlies old wind slabs or the mid-January crust that exists to 2400m. The mid-pack is well settled and overlies basal facets and depth hoar, especially in thin areas.

Weather Summary

Wind in the strong to extreme range from the NW will persist through until Thursday. Temperatures will also slowly rise to -5 in the valley and -7 at the ridge by Thursday. Trace accumulations of snow may occur on Wednesday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

25cm of storm snow fell near Cameron Lake on Fri Jan 27 (up to 50cm in the townsite). This snow has been redistributed in to wind slabs in lee areas since then, by moderate to strong wind with variable direction. These slabs could be as deep as 50cm (deeper in Eastern side of park).

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2023 4:00PM