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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2023–Dec 4th, 2023

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

Regions

Purcells, South Rockies, Dogtooth, East Purcell, Moyie, St. Mary, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Strong winds may build wind slabs in more sheltered areas where surface hoar and faceted snow have been buried. Keep an eye out for snow that feels dense or stiff.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region.

Observations are limited this time of year. Please consider filling out a MIN report if you head out in the backcountry!

Snowpack Summary

3 to 5 cm of new snow has buried various surfaces; surface hoar in sheltered terrain, heavily wind-affected in open alpine, melt-freeze crusts on steep solar aspects, and faceted soft snow.

A crust with facets or depth hoar exists at or near the ground. The snowpack is shallower than average for this time of year, with depths at treeline ranging from 20 -50 cm and tapers rapidly below.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with scattered flurries, trace to 3 cm accumulation. Southwest alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h higher wind speeds in the south of this region. Treeline temperatures -8 °C warmer in the south of this region -5 °C.

Monday

Partly cloudy, scattered flurries, trace accumulations. Southwest alpine winds are 10 to 40 km/h, highest in the south of the region. Treeline temperatures -5 °C warming starting in the south overnight with freezing levels rising above 2000 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 10 to 20 cm accumulation of snow switching to rain. Southwest alpine winds 30 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2500 to 2700 m in the south of the region.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy, scattered flurries with 2 to 5 cm accumulation. Southwest alpine winds 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperatures 0 °C with freezing levels dropping between 1500 to 2000 m with the warmest temperatures in the south of the region.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Avalanche danger is often elevated in alpine gullies where snow has accumulated.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.