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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 23rd, 2024–Dec 24th, 2024

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Head to sheltered areas for the best riding conditions. The early December crust has shown reactivity in wind affected features.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

The early December crust and facets produced a size 1 machine triggered avalanche on Saturday, on a west facing treeline slope (photo below). The surface snow was wind loaded above the crust, likely increasing reactivity.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface at higher elevations is highly variable and wind affected, with some slopes stripped from recent strong southerly winds. In sheltered areas, below 30 to 50 cm of snow sits a melt-freeze crust from early December. This is the current layer of concern, producing avalanche activity and showing reactivity on testing.

There are no deeper layers of concern.

Data is very limited in this region, please submit MIN reports if you head into the mountains. Any data or photos are helpful!

Weather Summary

Monday Night

A mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow. 60 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing levels drop to below 1000 m in most areas.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Another 15 cm is possible Tuesday night, favouring the Pine Pass area.

Wednesday

Partly clear skies with 50 km/hr southerly ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with flurries. 30 to 40 km/hr southerly ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.