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 22nd, 2022–Jan 23rd, 2022

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

Regions

North Rockies.

Warm temperatures may create tricky conditions this weekend. Although the region is not included in the avalanche warning, deeper layers in the snowpack may become active. Approach the mountains cautiously, with your eyes open, and maybe even expect surprises. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Warm air aloft will maintain elevated freezing levels and prevent overnight crust recovery. Strong gusting to extreme ridgetop wind from the west, overnight high temperatures near 0 C as freezing level drops below 1400 m.

SUNDAY: Broken skies in the morning with increasing cloud through day. Gusty moderate west-northwest wind. Ridgetop high temperatures near 0 C in the afternoon, with freezing level between 1500 and 2000 m.

MONDAY: Isolated flurries overnight, clearing to a sunny sky in the afternoon. Moderate northwest wind, daytime high temperatures dropping to -3 C, and freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Gusty increasing west wind. High temperature -4 C. Freezing level at valley bottom, possible inversion.

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1-1.5) storm slab and loose dry avalanches avalanches were reported late Thursday with new snow and wind, particularly where more than 30 cm of snow accumulated and wind exceeded 25 km / hr.

Snowpack Summary

Strong westerly winds have stiffened 20-40 cm recent storm snow in open areas at treeline and throughout the alpine. Gusty winds may have loaded terrain further downslope than usual.

The lower snowpack is generally strong and bonded, with one or multiple crusts near the ground. We suspect the lower snowpack could be weak in shallow rocky wind-affected slopes east of the divide.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.