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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 13th, 2023–Dec 14th, 2023

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Wind slabs at upper elevations are the main concern.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

On Monday there were reports of a few skier controlled wind slab avalanches to size 1. On Monday there were a few size 1-1.5 explosives controlled wind slab avalanches reported in the alpine and treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Recent southwest winds have redistributed surface snow into leeward terrain features. In some areas, you may also find a thin, frozen crust near the surface.

The dry surface snow has bonded well to the crust left behind by last week's rain event. That crust is 40-60 cm deep and has been observed up to 5 cm thick in some places.

Beneath the upper crust, the remainder of the rain-moistened snowpack has slowly refrozen.

Snowpack depths vary across the forecast area. 50 to 120 cm at treeline, tapering rapidly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1-2 cm. Moderate west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -9 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with flurries, accumulation 1-4 cm. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -5°C.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with clear periods. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. Moderate southwest wind. Treeline temperature -5°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.