Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 11 – 12, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch for changing conditions as you gain elevation and exposure to wind.

Best riding conditions will be found in wind sheltered terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wind slabs may be triggerable by riders, particularly in areas where they overlie a crust or facets.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control on Monday produced size 1.5 wind slab avalanches. These slabs may still be triggerable by riders in some features.

Observations are limited, please submit to the MIN network if you head into the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Snow at higher elevations is heavily wind effected, with deeper deposits on east facing slopes, and west facing slopes may be scoured. Wind slabs may sit over a crust, hard wind affected surfaces or surface facets (weak crystals), but reports suggest they are stubborn to human triggering.

A melt freeze crust exists near the base of the snowpack, reports suggest it is currently not a problem for the region.

Treeline snow depths are typically 50 to 80 cm, with deeper wind-loaded pockets in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Thursday

Mostly sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Friday

Partly cloudy with possible flurries. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °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.
  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.

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