Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2022–Dec 4th, 2022

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 possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Spray - KLakes.

Lots of wind moving snow around and loose dry activity on the rocky faces observed today. Continue to travel cautiously as the snowpack is weak and faceted at this time.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A couple size 2 windslab avalanches were observed along the spray today.

One of which was off repeater slope (lookers right when in the Tryst lakes exit gully) this came across the whole feature. This started from steep crossloaded terrain above.

Lots of loose dry activity poring off the steepest alpine faces.

Snowpack Summary

5-8cm of new snow over the past few days has done little to change the overall avalanche danger. Winds were much stronger today from the NW and has helped build new windslabs.

The cold temps are only making the weak base weaker. Unfortunately this will likely remain with us for the season....

The new snow is likely to sluff easily in steeper terrain. This is of particular importance to ice climbers who are often in steep gullies.

Weather Summary

Sunday we will contuine to see a warming trend to a high of -5. Scattered sun and no precip expected. Light easterly winds.

Monday

Possibility for 7cm of snow and cooler temps once again. -14 as a day time high. West winds will hit 40km/h

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Ice climbers should be equipped with avalanche safety gear.
Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Winter conditions may exist in gullies, alpine bowls, and around ridgelines.

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.