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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2024–Jan 27th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies, Akamina, Flathead, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Incoming warming may cause buried weak layers to become active and large avalanches to be rider-triggerable.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few small (size 1-1.5) wind slab avalanches were triggered with explosives on Wednesday and Thursday in the south of the region. As well as one large (size 2.5) persistent slab avalanche in the Flathead south of the American border on Thursday, below treeline.

Two large, explosive-triggered avalanches (size 2 and 3) were reported on Monday in the region's south. Both avalanches occurred at treeline on southeast slopes. They failed on sugary facets down 30 to 50 cm.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 30 cm of recent snowfall continues to be redistributed by southwest wind. There is a layer of sugary facets that are buried 30-50 cm deep and in some places sits on a crust from December. This layer has been reactive in snowpack tests.

The lower snowpack contains a series of crusts and faceted snow that have been unreactive so far. Expect snow depth at treeline to be 100 to 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy with no snow, west alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with no snow, west alpine wind 40 to 70 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1800 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow or rain, west alpine wind 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature 3 °C, freezing level 2250 m.

Monday

Mostly clear skies with no new snow, southwest alpine wind 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature 6 °C, freezing level 3250 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.