Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2025–Jan 26th, 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, 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

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Rising temperatures and freezing levels should make for an enjoyable day in the mountains.

Windslabs can be found in a wide range of areas due to changing wind directions. Assess the deep persistent slab as you choose terrain, as it remains a low probability but high consequence problem in the snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed along the Icefields Parkway on January 25th.

No notable avalanches have been observed since avalanche control at Parker Ridge on January 17th produced size 2.5 slab avalanches stepping down to basal deep persistent layer at the bottom of the snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind effect at alpine and treeline has formed wind slabs over a weak faceted mid pack. At the bottom of the snowpack are the early season crusts, which are faceting and often surrounded by large depth hoar. The snowpack is 70-130 cm in depth at treeline, and thins quickly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Sunday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High 2 °C. Ridge wind northwest: 10 km/h. Freezing level: 2300 metres.

Monday

Sunny Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low 1 °C, High 3 °C. Ridge wind northwest: 10-25 km/h. Freezing level: 2900 metres.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -5 °C, High 1 °C. Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h. Freezing level: 2300 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

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.