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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2025–Jan 21st, 2025

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Rockies, McBride, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson.

A bit of snow combined with wind will keep wind slabs as the main concern at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity over the weekend has been reported as natural and skier triggered wind slab avalanches to size 1 in the alpine and at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

New snow from last week combined with recent wind has formed new wind slabs in exposed alpine and treeline terrain. On solar aspects treeline and below, the new snow overlies a variety of crusts from recent warming, sun, and rain.

We continue to track early January and early December surface hoar and crust layers down 30 to 50 cm and down 80 to 130 cm, respectively. Both are considered unlikely to trigger.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, accumulation 3-8 cm. 30 to 50 km/h west and northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -13 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 2-5 cm of new snow. 30 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -8 °C.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with flurries, 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

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.