Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 7th, 2018 4:21PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

shorton, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Cold and dry conditions continue with no change in the foreseeable future.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, moderate wind out of the west, alpine temperatures drop to -20 C.SATURDAY: Local valley cloud, alpine high temperatures around -10 C, light wind out of the west.SUNDAY: Scattered cloud cover, alpine high temperatures around -8 C, strong wind out of the southwest.MONDAY: Cloudy, alpine high temperatures around -5 C, strong wind out of the west.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region. Small wind slabs have been reported in neighboring regions. If you have been out, please submit any observations to the Mountain Information Network MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Early season conditions prevail in this region with roughly 30-90 cm of snow in alpine areas and much less at lower elevations. Surface conditions may range from soft power, hard wind slab, and some sun crusts. Isolated pockets of stiff wind slab likely exist on leeward slopes. The bottom half of the snowpack is composed of weak sugary snow and crusts. This layer has not been active, but terrain features like smooth alpine bowls with variable snowpack depths are still suspect given this snowpack structure.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are likely growing old and tired, but this a classic Rockies scenario where wind loaded features are some of the only rideable pieces of terrain. Human triggering would be most likely immediately lee of ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Increase your caution as you transition into wind affected terrain.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Dec 8th, 2018 2:00PM