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Avalanche Forecast

Dec 16th, 2023–Dec 17th, 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
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
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

Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Give the wind slabs a wide berth for the next few days. Ice climbs are shaping up even near the valley bottom. As temperatures might rise above zero in the lower elevations, ice climbers should watch for overhead hazards in form of loose wet sluffs or loose rock.Maligne Lake region has significantly less snow and lower hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Few small wind slabs observed in the last few days across the region. These slabs were found near ridge tops on northerly aspects.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is 40-60cm deep and is weak and facetted. A surface hoar layer is down 15-20cm below 2300m. Strong winds have stripped exposed alpine and tree-line terrain and created wind-slabs in cross-loaded and lee features.

Weather Summary

The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

SundayCloudy with sunny periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -8 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong to extreme southwesterly winds created a few wind slab layers over the last week. Winds slabs tend to be most reactive during and just after significant wind events, extra caution is advised on northerly features in the alpine and into the tree line.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The snow pack is very weak at the bottom. Natural activity has not been observed yet. Keep this on your radar as triggering remains possible with the shallow nature of the overall snowpack. This problem is of most concern in wind loaded alpine and tree line features, specifically below ridge tops.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5