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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 25th, 2021–Dec 26th, 2021

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

Regions

North Rockies.

Continue to assess the wind effect and avoid wind loaded pockets near ridge crests. Wind slabs will likely continue to be more reactive in the south part of the region.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to field data and reports showing a wide variation in conditions throughout the region.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: some light flurries with moderate east-northeast winds. Low of -30 at 1300m.

Sunday: some light flurries possible with moderate to strong northeast winds in the north and light to moderate southeast in the south. Temperatures steady around -28 at 1300m.

Monday: possibility of some light flurries . Wind will be moderate from the Northwest in the alpine. High of -28 at 1300m.

Tuesday: Some light flurries with moderate north winds. high of -25 at 1300m.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday our field team observed some natural avalanche activity up to size 1.5 in steep or extreme terrain in the treeline while in the southern part of the forecast region.

Explosives on Thursday produced wind slabs up too size 1.5 in treeline and alpine start zones with limited propagation.

Snowpack Summary

Easterly winds will have formed wind slab on west aspects and scoured the east. Cross loading could exist on other aspects.

 

A surface hoar layer up to size 4 was recently buried, it is not yet a problem.

Snowpack depth at treeline typically ranges from 100-250 cm, with the shallower value mainly on the eastern side of the range and the deepest snowpack around Renshaw.

Terrain and Travel

  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
  • Highmark or enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.