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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2026–Jan 10th, 2026

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Significant warming is expected to increase the reactivity of weak layers.

Verify conditions as you travel and back off if you notice signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday & Thursday, there were reports of small, size 1 to 1.5, reactive wind slabs triggered by explosives and skiers. Dry loose sluffs were also reported.

Looking forward, we may see increased reactivity with wind slabs and cornices during the warmest parts of the day.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds have developed wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded features at upper elevations. In parts of the region, a weak surface hoar layer may be buried around 40 cm.

The mid-snowpack is wind-pressed and consolidated with a melt-freeze crust that is widespread at treeline and below, and generally absent in alpine terrain.

Near the bottom of the snowpack, a crust with facets is considered unlikely to trigger, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level around 1500 m with a temperature inversion developing.

Saturday
Sunny. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 1 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level around 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.