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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2022–Dec 19th, 2022

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Akamina, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Variable winds will have produced wind slabs on all aspects in the alpine and at treeline.

Cold temperatures and shorter days should play a role in your trip planning.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed in our region in the last 24 hours. Several persistent slab avalanches, up to size 2, have been reported this past week in the neighbouring forecast region.

If you are heading into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Recent 25 cm of recent snow combined with variable winds has likely formed a small wind slab in all exposed alpine terrain. This overlies a sun crust on solar aspects and a layer of facets on more northerly aspects. Surface hoar can also be found under this recent snow around treeline in sheltered areas.

A weak layer consisting of facets and a crust formed in November is now buried around 50 cm deep. This layer has produced large avalanches in the past week and continues to show reactivity in snowpack tests in the neighboring forecast region.

In general, the snowpack is quite faceted with average snowpack depths of around 100 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy, 2 to 4 cm accumulation, 10 to 20 km/h northeast wind, -25 C at 1500 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny, trace accumulation, 15 km/h northwest winds, alpine temperature of -24 C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud, up to 4 cm accumulation, 13 km/h northeast wind, temperature -25 C at 1500 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud, 3 cm accumulation, 10 km/h northeast winds, alpine temperature of -30 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

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.