Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 2nd, 2023–Jan 3rd, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Akamina, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Approach steep, lee terrain features with caution. Don't commit to a steep slope if it looks wind-affected or feels dense or stiff.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the area. Several large (size 2 to 3) wind slabs were observed in the neighbouring Waterton Lakes National Park, releasing in alpine terrain on easterly aspects between 2000 and 2300 m.

Looking ahead, riders could trigger wind slabs in steep, lee terrain features.

Snowpack Summary

Pockets of soft snow can still be found in sheltered terrain that has not been affected by the recent southwest winds. In wind-exposed terrain the wind has redistributed the surface snow, forming wind slabs in lee terrain features. A hard melt-freeze crust below 2000 m is buried at variable depths between 0 - 20 cm depending on elevation. A surface crust may be found up to around 1600 m on all aspects and to ridgetop on sun-exposed slopes.

The middle of the snowpack is generally consolidated and sits above weak, faceted snow near the ground.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly clear skies, 10 km/h west wind, treeline temperatures -14 °C

Tuesday

Partly cloudy skies with no precipitation, 10 to 20 km/h southwest wind, and treeline temperatures warming to -5 °C

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 20 to 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday

Partly cloudy skies, increasing through the day with isolated flurries, light west winds, treeline high temperatures -5 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.