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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 12th, 2023–Dec 13th, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
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
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
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
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Akamina, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West, Flathead, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies.

Recent southwest winds have promoted wind slab formation at upper elevations.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Sunday and Monday show explosives controlled wind slab avalanches running to size 1.5 in the alpine and treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Recent moderate to strong southwest winds have redistributed surface snow into deeper pockets in leeward terrain features. In some areas, you may also find a thin, frozen crust near the surface.

40-60 cm of recent snow seems to be bonding well to the wet or frozen surface left behind by recent, heavy rain. A hard melt-freeze crust is forming at this interface, observed up to 5 cm thick in some places.

Beneath the upper crust, the remainder of the rain-moistened snowpack is slowly refreezing as freezing level remains below valley bottom.

Snowpack depths vary across the forecast area. 50 to 120 cm at treeline, tapering rapidly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mainly Cloudy. Light west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -8 °C, with possible temperature inversion in the alpine.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -3°C, with possible temperature inversion in the alpine.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. Light snow with 1-3 cm accumulation. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -5°C.

Friday

Mainly cloudy. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch out for reactive wind slabs in leeward terrain features such as ridgecrests and roll-overs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2