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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2022–Dec 10th, 2022

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

Moyie, St. Mary.

Look for signs of instability like natural avalanches, whumpfing and shooting cracks. Wind slabs at treeline could have formed over touchy surfaces like crusts and surface hoar making them larger and more sensitive to triggering.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in this region. However, note that we have had very few field observations. Please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report if you are heading to the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Southerly winds continue to redistribute new snow into wind slabs on west, north and east aspects. around 10cm of recent snow has buried a layer of surface Hoar in sheltered terrain and a sun crust on south facing slopes.

A concerning layer of surface hoar from mid November is buried down up to 40cm . This layer could become more reactive as slab properties above it increase with new snow and wind.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Flurries with trace amounts of new snow expected. Southerly winds increasing throughout the night, strong by early Saturday morning. Low of -7 at 1500m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow. Moderate southerly winds in the morning becoming light in the afternoon. High of -4 at 1500

Sunday

Flurries in the morning bringing trace amounts of new snow and then clearing in the afternoon. High of -4 at 1500m. Light easterly winds.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light winds and a high of -6 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.