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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 31st, 2024–Jan 1st, 2025

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

Regions

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

The best and safest riding will be in sheltered terrain where the snow is soft. As you get above the trees, avoid areas that the wind has loaded.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported since Friday.

If you are out in the backcountry consider submitting your observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find 20 to 40 cm of settling snow in sheltered terrain. The southwesterly wind has scoured to the ground on windward slopes and likely formed wind slabs on lee slopes and cross-loaded terrain.

A crust from early December is buried up to 80 cm deep. Snowpack tests and a lack of recent avalanches suggest that this layer is trending unreactive, however, observations are limited in this region.

The lower snowpack is settled and strong.

Data is very limited, please submit a MIN report if you head into the mountains. Any information or a photo is helpful!

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -17 °C.

Thursday

Mostly sunny with increasing clouds. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

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.