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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 19th, 2024–Dec 20th, 2024

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

South Rockies, Akamina, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Avoid steep, wind-loaded slopes. Recently formed wind slabs may remain reactive to rider-triggering.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, skier-triggered wind slabs (size 1) were reported from alpine and treeline terrain. Explosive control produced one size 2 wind slab from alpine terrain. Observations were limited due to poor visibility.

Snowpack Summary

In the past few days, 20 cm of new snow fell accompanied by strong to extreme southwest winds. This created wind slabs in lee areas and scoured surfaces at alpine and treeline elevations.

Below the recent snow is a melt-freeze crust on south-facing slopes and hard, wind-pressed snow in exposed terrain.

The snowpack depth varies greatly, windward slopes may only have 50 cm on them while leeward slopes could have as much as 200 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow. 40 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with up to 1 cm of snow. 50 to 100 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 1 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 1 cm of snow. 15 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.

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.