Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 13th, 2020–Jan 14th, 2020

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Cold..Brrrr........Overnight lows of -35c

Extra caution in the alpine. Take the time to dig and see the buried wind slabs and the November crust/facet/depth hoar complex.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

We are in the middle of a cold air mass. Morning temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday will be around -35c and maybe warming up to -25c. Flurries are expected both days along with moderate SW winds on Tuesday and strong SW winds in the alpine on Wednesday. Little mishaps can become real emergencies in these cold temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

The cold temperatures are creating surface faceting and most likely some surface hoar growth as well. There are several generations of buried wind slabs in the top 50cm of the snow pack in the alpine and tree line that were still producing moderate compression test results on Sunday. If any avalanche is triggered in the upper snowpack, there is a strong possibility to wake up the deeper persistent slab which is sitting on the November complex (crust, facets and depth hoar).

Terrain and Travel

If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.