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 28th, 2021–Dec 29th, 2021

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.

Keep an eye on the extend of wind transport throughout the day. Shallow but touchy wind slabs will likely build as a result of increasing west winds on Wednesday.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night: Winds will be generally moderate from the north in the north and light from the north in the south. Some light flurries are expected. Low of -28 at 1500m.

Wednesday: westerly winds will build throughout the day with light snow accumulating up to 10cm. High of -18 at 1500m.

Thursday: winds returning to northerly with flurries in the morning. High of -20 at 1500m.

Friday: Light winds with the possibility of flurries. High of -20 at 1500m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in the region in the last few days. We suspect that some small natural wind slab avalanches will occur on Wednesday afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Westerly winds throughout the day on Wednesday could form new wind slabs on east aspects. 

A surface hoar layer up to size 4 was buried last week, it is not yet a problem.

Snowpack depth at treeline typically ranges from 100-250 cm, with the shallower value mainly on the eastern side of the range and the deepest snowpack around Renshaw.

Terrain and Travel

  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Highmark or enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.
  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

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.