Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2024–Jan 24th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

The snowpack still needs time to heal. Approach all avalanche terrain with caution and expect human triggered avalanches. Now is the time to find low angled skiing.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new has been reported or observed. The snowpack has been unstable in the last few days with reports of wet loose slides, avalanches, whumphing, cracking and settlements. This will likely continue for the next few days. Check out the MIN reports at: https://avalanche.ca/map

Snowpack Summary

Warmer weather continues to settle the upper snowpack into denser snow. Expect to find reactive wind slabs and settled snow up to 30cm thick at treeline and above. These slabs are reacting on the faceted layer formed by the recent cold spell. The Dec 5th crust can be found in the lower third of the snowpack and could wake up with the warmer temps and produce larger avalanches, especially triggered from thinner areas. Now is a good time to step back and let nature take care of the snowpack with the warmer weather.

Weather Summary

Continued Chinook like conditions with warm temperatures will prevail for another day. Wednesday will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a high of -5c. Ridge winds are expected to be 35km/h from the SW, along with a freezing level of 1600m.

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.
Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
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.