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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 7th, 2024–Dec 8th, 2024

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

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

New wind slabs will be reactive to human triggering. Avoid steep and unsupported terrain for the next couple of days.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

  • No new avalanches were observed or reported today, but observations were very limited.

Snowpack Summary

A warm and windy weather pattern dropped up to 10cm of snow in the past 24hrs. This precipitation was mixed with rain below 2000m. This new snow fell on a variety of previous surfaces including crusts and wind effected snow, which could now serve as sliding layers. Due to the consistent moderate to strong winds, wind slab formation is widespread, especially at upper elevations. Snowpack depths at treeline average 70cm, which is on the lower end of average for this time of year. Generally the snowpack is weak and facetted. The Nov and Oct rain crusts are steadily deteriorating into layers of facets.

Weather Summary

Sunday will be cloudy with light flurries. Forecasts for snowfall amounts vary considerably with anywhere between 2 and 10cm anticipated. Strong NW winds in the morning will settle down a bit in the afternoon. Daytime highs should reach -8C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.
  • Avoid steep terrain that is rocky and thin.

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.