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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2023–Jan 18th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Akamina, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Normal cautions should be sufficient to manage the small, thin wind slabs lingering around higher elevations. Pray for snow!

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Only thin, small wind slabs were reported after a skiff of new snow and a round of ski cutting in the Castle area on Monday.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of recent snow has been getting blown around on top of a crust that exists to 2000 m as a result of warming on the weekend. Above this elevation it blends into heavily wind-affected snow, with some thin new wind slabs scattered around exposed terrain. Forecast trace flurries will do little to change this picture over the next few days.

The mid-pack continues to settle and consolidate. Basal facets are found in the bottom 20-40 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

A mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate southwest winds, increasing into the morning.

Wednesday

Mainly cloudy. Moderate to strong southwest winds, increasing over the day. Treeline high temperatures around -4.

Thursday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light southwest winds. Treeline high temperatures around -3.

Friday

Mainly sunny. Light to moderate southwest or northwest winds, easing over the day. Treeline high temperatures around -4.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.