Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2024–Dec 19th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

New wind slabs have formed with this last storm and sensitive to skier triggering. Approach avalanche terrain with caution.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

This last storm left us with up to 10cm of snow in the Spray Valley with locally higher amounts up to 15cm. All of the storm snow came with strong winds, so expect to find wind slabs in the Alpine and into Treeline that overly previous wind slabs. Approach all open areas with caution. If the wind slab is triggered, it is likely to bring the entire snowpack with it as the October crust/facet layer is located 20cm off the ground.

Weather Summary

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks and a high temperature of -7c. Winds are diminishing to moderate from the West.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Don't let storm day fever lure you into consequential terrain.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.