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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2026–Jan 28th, 2026

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

Regions

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Tumbler.

New snow and strong winds are building wind slabs over a weak layer of surface hoar.

Watch for signs of instability, such as shooting cracks, and avoid steep terrain if they are observed.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the past week.

We expect that the recent 10 to 15 cm of accumulated storm snow in the Pine Pass and McGregors areas are building wind slabs in lee terrain features over a surface hoar layer. Avalanches are expected to be small but reactive.

Snowpack Summary

Recent new snow is being redistributed by strong southwest winds, building wind slabs over a layer of surface hoar.

This surface hoar layer sits on a crust found on all slopes except shaded north-facing slopes, where there is a mix of soft snow from surface faceting and wind-affected snow in open terrain features. Cornices are large and overhanging.

The lower snowpack is well settled, with the mid-December facet/crust layer buried approximately 100 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 30 cm snow at treeline. (highest amount in the NW of the region). 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

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.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

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.