Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 22nd, 2024–Dec 23rd, 2024

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Pleasant weather continues! Ski quality may not be the best ever, but with weather like this it is still worthwhile getting out. Think of it as earning that extra Holiday treat.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

A heavy dusting last night left 8cm near the divide, and 3-5 on the Spray Road. Amounts vary within the region, so expect more in some areas. If you guess right and pick the right drainage, you may find pockets of 10-15cm. Happy hunting. Building windslabs remain the most likely problem you'll encounter. Right now immediate lee areas at treeline are a good bet to find new slabs, but as winds become more gusty and unpredictable, slabs will creep into more open areas. It wouldn't be snowpack summary without a quick reminder of the deeper layers. While there hasn't been any natural activity involving the deeper crusts, there have been some explosive results lately that are a good reminder on this layer's potential.

Weather Summary

A cloudy day is expected for tomorrow. Winds will be light up to 2500m, and moderate 2500m and above. In both cases they'll be out of the SW. No snow is expected. Temperatures will range from -7 to -4 during the day, with a sharp drop to -12 by Monday night.

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.
Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

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.