Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

MONDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, up to 5 cm / light to moderate west wind / alpine low temperature near -10

TUESDAY - A mix of sun and cloud with a few flurries / light southwest wind becoming moderate south in the afternoon / alpine high temperature near -7 

WEDNESDAY - Mainly cloudy with a few flurries, around 5 cm / moderate southwest wind, easing in the afternoon / alpine high temperature near -5 / freezing level 1300 m

THURSDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / light northeast wind / alpine high temperature near -6

At the time of publishing, there were a few reports of natural size 2.5 wind slab avalanches on north and east-facing terrain in the alpine on Monday.

On Sunday there were reports of numerous natural, human and explosives triggered avalanches up to size 2. There was also one natural size 2.5 deep persistent slab avalanche reported on a north aspect at 2500 m near Invermere. 

NOTABLE MIN from Sunday Here.

On Thursday, a ski cut resulted in a size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect in the alpine near Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. MIN report HERE.

A skier triggered avalanche was reported in the Golden area on Wednesday. Check out the MIN report HERE. 

These recent avalanches are a reminder that when persistent slabs are the problem; conservative terrain choices are the answer.

25-35 cm of recent snow with previous strong southwest winds have formed storm slabs at all elevations.

There are currently several layers of concern in much of the region's snowpack. 40-50 cm of snow sits on yet another weak layer of surface hoar that was reported in the Golden area. 

The mid-December surface hoar is now down 90-130 cm. Although there have been no new reports of avalanches on this layer in the last few days, it remains possible to trigger where it is well preserved. There may also be a crust near, or instead of this layer in some areas.

The lower snowpack is characterized by more crusts, the most notable is a rain crust from early November that is sitting near the base of the snowpack, surrounded by a weak layer of sugary facets. It is most likely to be reactive to human triggers in steep, shallow, rocky areas with a thin to thick snowpack.

• Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of buried persistent weak layers.
• Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
• Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.