Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 12th, 2024 2:15PM

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

Avalanche Canada Kananaskis, Avalanche Canada

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Time to start asking for snow this Christmas! Any avalanche will likely involve the entire snowpack. Great climbing conditions in areas such as the Ghost.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs are common in the alpine and are more sensitive to triggering along lee features, convex rolls along ridges and cross loaded gullies. The height of the snowpack varies significantly and where it is deeper, the snowpack is generally stronger. The October crust is located in the bottom 20cm of the snowpack and the November crust is not as widespread and is found about 35cm off the ground. Take the time to dig and investigate these layers.

The Dec 7th interface is found on most aspects up to 2200m and on more solar aspects up to 2500m.

Weather Summary

Click on the table below for weather info and Friday's weather is under the "Tomorrow" Tab.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid steep terrain that is rocky and thin.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Windslabs are common in alpine areas. Watch for this areas around the "lens" of windslabs where it will be more likely to trigger this weakness. Any failure will likely step down and involve the entire winters snowpack.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

If triggered the surface wind slabs may step down to this layer and involve the entire winters snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Dec 12th, 2024 3:00PM

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