Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
No freeze is expected overnight. The heat has made the snowpack unstable and ski quality extremely poor. Ice climbers this is the time to avoid gully features where the consequences of even a small wet loose slide can be large.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose wet avalanches up to sz 2 and a few deep persistent avalanche up to sz 2.5 have been observed over the past few days. The deep avalanches mainly occurred on N and E aspects initiating in alpine terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temps are making the snowpack isothermal in lower elevation areas and making the top 10-30cm moist at treeline and above. This rapid settlement is overloading the weak basal facets in some areas triggering full depth avalanches. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at this time.
On a positive side when it does get cold again, the snowpack will be fairly supportive! Dig out your ski crampons for February!
Weather Summary
Another warm day in store with no overnight freeze expected expected and freezing levels on Wednesday around 2800m. The sky will be sunny also so pay attention to aspect that you are on/under. Day time highs will be around +4 at treeline.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
- Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Surface snow becoming moist and wet with high freezing levels.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Persistent and wet slabs have been seen to be failing on the arctic facets down 30-50cm
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Deep Persistent Slabs
Recent evidence exists of avalanche failing in the basal facets and depth hoar close to ground.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2