Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

• Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.
• Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

On Wednesday

• Numerous loose dry sluffs out of extreme terrain were observed southwest of Valemount. They were up to size 2 and likely triggered by wind or sun.

On Tuesday

• One large (size 2) wind slab was reported, triggered by a cornice failure.

If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations or photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Recent snow amounts vary across the region: Between 15 and 40 cm, with the highest amounts in the McGregor Range. This snow has built reactive storm slabs, especially in areas where there is more than 20 cm of new snow. Recent winds have built deeper and more reactive slabs on lee slopes near ridgetops.

The prominent mid-December crust is buried up to 110 cm deep and extends to 2200 m. Several weak layers persist in the lower snowpack, but concern is limited to higher-elevation terrain where the crust above is absent. Triggering is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.

Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.