Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 12 – 13, 2024Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 2 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Watch for changing conditions as you gain elevation.

the best riding conditions will be found in wind sheltered terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wind slabs may still be triggerable by riders, particularly in areas where they overlie a crust or facets.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday explosive control in the region triggered numerous wind slab avalanches up to size 2. These avalanches were on south and southeast aspects at treeline and in the alpine. A few of them ran on the crust described in the snowpack summary.

Snowpack Summary

Snow at higher elevations is heavily wind effected, with deeper deposits on east facing slopes, and west facing slopes may be scoured. Wind slabs may sit over a crust, hard wind affected surfaces or surface facets (weak crystals),.

A melt freeze crust exists near the base of the snowpack, reports suggest it is currently not a problem for the region.

Treeline snow depths are typically 50 to 80 cm, with deeper wind-loaded pockets in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Sky clearing overnight with no snow expected. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9°C.       

Thursday

Mostly sunny with no snow expected. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7°C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of snow possible. 25 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6°C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow expected. 40 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

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.
  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.

Regions covered