Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 2nd, 2019–Dec 3rd, 2019

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Stormy weather will create the potential for slab avalanches in wind affected terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Flurries bring 5-10 cm of snow, 40-70 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures around -5 C.

TUESDAY: Morning flurries with another 5-10 cm of snow then cloudy in the afternoon, 40-70 km/h wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.

WEDNESDAY: 10-20 cm of snow, 40-50 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -2 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy, 20-40 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -4 C.

Avalanche Summary

Over the next few days new snow and wind will form fresh slabs that will be most reactive in wind affected terrain. There have been no recent reports of avalanches, but observations are limited this time of year.

Snowpack Summary

By Tuesday afternoon there will be 10 to 20 cm of new snow, with strong wind forming deeper deposits at higher elevations. The new snow is falling on hard surfaces including wind pressed snow and rain crusts. Snowpack depths are about 100 cm at treeline elevations and taper quickly below treeline. The lower snowpack contains several 'sandwiched' layers of facets and crusts as well as a potential surface hoar layer (see video here). These type of layers can potentially develop into avalanche problems, but are most likely unreactive at the moment.

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.