Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 4th, 2023–Dec 5th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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

McBride, Premier, Clemina, Kakwa, Renshaw, Robson.

A mixture of snow and rain continues to bury a layer of surface hoar.

Seek out low-consequence terrain and monitor how new snow is bonding with old surfaces.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There have been very few observations in our area. Expect avalanche activity to increase. To the area to the south of us there have been several size one natural and skier-triggered avalanches in recent days. Many of these were remotely triggered. These avalanches were at treeline and on all aspects.

As more snow falls and the slab stiffens, we expect the size of avalanches to increase.

Snowpack Summary

Another 10 to 20 cm of new snow and rain will be added to the up to 40 cm of new snow from this past weekend. This has buried a layer of large surface hoar.  On steep south-facing slopes this surface hoar may have developed on top of a sun crust. Expect to find wind slabs at higher elevations.

The mid-pack is generally unconsolidated. A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found just above the ground.

The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. Average snowpack depth at treeline range from 65 to 85 cm.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy, 10 to 20 cm accumulation of wet snow with highest amounts in the south, alpine winds southerly 50 to 60 km/h, treeline temperatures -2 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy, 5 to 15 cm accumulation in some areas, alpine winds southwest 35 to 45 km/h, freezing level around 2000 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with some sun in the north, up to 2 to 5 cm accumulation, alpine winds southwest 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures back down to -5 °C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, alpine winds southerly 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.