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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 30th, 2023–Dec 31st, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

A complex snowpack situation with multiple deep instabilities is best managed through conservative terrain selection.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche observations from the alpine in the past three days;

  • explosive-triggered persistent layers stepping down to the ground and up to size 2 in the Dogtooth range

  • explosive-triggered wind slabs, size 1.5 in the northwest Purcells

  • ski cut loose dry to size 1 in the upper snowpack facets near Invermere

Snowpack Summary

A generally well-settled upper snowpack sits atop a complex snowpack with several layers of note.

A layer of buried surface hoar buried 50 to 70 cm deep has been an active avalanche problem. It is less of a concern in areas where a strong, supportive crust exists above the surface hoar layer.

The lower snowpack is typically characterized by sugary, facetted crystals and a crust. Avalanches have been stepping down to this layer.

Snowpack depths at treeline average 70-120 cm with significant variability across the region.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow, ridgetop wind <10 km/h south, treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow, ridgetop wind <10 km/h south, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud, ridgetop wind <10 km/h southeast, treeline temperature -5 °C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud, ridgetop wind <10 km/h, treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

The primary layer of concern in much of the region is a layer of surface hoar down 50-70 cm. If triggered, avalanches on this layer could step down to deeper weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

A layer of weak facets near the ground may be reactive to human triggering. Especially in shallow, rocky areas in alpine terrain where the layer is not being capped by a crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3