Avalanche forecast

North Rockies

Dec 29 – 30, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Terrain that is sheltered from the wind will hold soft, loose snow with no slab properties. That's where you'll find the best riding and the lowest avalanche danger.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Avalanches are most likely where the wind has formed the recent snow into wind slabs on leeward slopes in cross-loaded terrain.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy. Light variable wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 5 to 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, east of Pine Pass, natural and human triggered avalanches up to size 2 were reported in wind exposed treeline and alpine terrain. See photo below for more info and a link to the MIN report.

If you are out in the backcountry consider submitting your observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

In sheltered terrain, expect to find 20 to 40 cm of settling snow. South through west wind has exposed the ground on windward slopes and formed wind slabs on lee slopes and in cross-loaded terrain.

In sheltered areas, a crust from early December is buried up to 80 cm. Snowpack tests and a lack of recent avalanches suggest that this layer has gotten stronger and is no longer a concern. However, observations are limited in this region.

The lower snowpack is settled and strong.

Data is very limited in this region, please submit MIN reports if you head into the mountains. Any information or photos are helpful!

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.

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