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 18th, 2024–Dec 19th, 2024

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Light snowfall and west winds through Thursday will continue to promote wind slab formation at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There were no new avalanches to report on Tuesday.

Several natural wind slab avalanches to size 2 were reported Sunday and Monday in the alpine and tree line in the Pine Pass area and in the MacGregors.

Data is very limited in this region. Please submit your MIN (Mountain Information Network)

Snowpack Summary

5 to 10 cm fresh snow has accumulated over the early part of the week. At upper elevations, wind has redistributed snow to lee features.

The recent snow overlies a hard melt-freeze crust. There are no deeper layers of concern.

Data is very limited in this region.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with scattered flurries, accumulation 3 to 5 cm. 30 to 50 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks and scattered flurries, accumulation 2 to 5 cm. 25 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with islolated flurries. 30 to 60 km/h west and southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy. 25 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

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.