Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 2nd, 2023–Dec 3rd, 2023

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

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

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, several skier-triggered dry loose avalanches in steep north-facing terrain were reported near Invermere.

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

Saturday Night

Cloudy with scattered flurries, trace to 3 cm accumulations. Southwest alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries, 3 to 8 cm accumulation. Southwest alpine wind increases throughout the day 25 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -7 °C.

Monday

Partly cloudy, scattered flurries, trace accumulations. Southwest alpine winds 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperatures -5 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy 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 2500m.

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.