Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2024–Jan 11th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

Hard to have a headline and not mention the incoming cold. Starting tomorrow it looks like we will have to contend with -30 temperatures. Remember, this is a very unforgiving temperature! If you do go out, bring extra clothing, food/hot drinks and don't go far.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Nothing was reported today, but we expect there was a loose dry cycle going on with maybe a slab here and there.

Snowpack Summary

We've had up to 30-50 in the last 5 days. With that we've had variable winds, both for direction and intensity. That means we've got a number of windslab layers that are likely buried under the most recent storm snow. These will be relatively quick to settle and bond to one another, but expect reactive slabs in immediate lee areas. Beneath these windslabs there is a layer of either facets, or hard windslab. Further down yet, we have the crust that's hanging in there.

Weather Summary

We are expecting another 4cm of snow in the next 24 hours. That's the good news, the bad news is the temperatures are going to plummet and settle around the -35 mark as of tomorrow afternoon. Luckily winds will be light, which will keep the wind chill down.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.