Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Kakwa, Pine Pass, Tumbler.
Wind slabs are a concern, especially where they sit over buried persistent weak layers.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, a natural cornice fall triggered a large wind slab avalanche on a south-facing alpine slope. The slab failed on a buried crust, highlighting that while a significant load may be required to trigger avalanches, the potential for large avalanches remains.
Wind slabs will remain a concern with the weak layers below.
Snowpack Summary
The new snow overlies a widespread surface hoar layer that formed over the past week, particularly around treeline elevations and below. In sun-exposed terrain, surface hoar may rest atop a thin crust, while elsewhere it sits atop a mix of old wind-affected surfaces and weak, faceted snow.
A widespread crust with facets and/or surface hoar, buried in mid-January, is approximately 30 to 70 cm below the surface.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well consolidated.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Thursday
Scattered cloud with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature - 13 °C.
Saturday
Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid slopes that sound hollow or drum-like.
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for slabs before you commit to it.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs remain a concern with a potential weak bond with the old surface.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5