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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2024–Dec 4th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Minimize exposure to avalanche terrain; natural avalanches may occur and rider-triggered avalanches are likely.

Warm temperatures, wind, snow or rain will stress the snowpack.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Natural wind slab avalanches were reported in a MIN on Monday.

We expect natural activity has occurred with rapid wind loading and warm temperatures - these slabs will likely remain sensitive to human triggers.

Early season observations are limited. If you head into the backcountry, please post to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions likely vary from heavily wind affected snow at higher elevations to settling storm snow in sheltered areas. Storm totals from the week reached 60-150 cm across the region. Warm temperatures have likely begun to affect the surface snow, potentially creating an overnight crust or moist snow during the day.

A crust from early November may be found in the mid to lower snowpack, with surface hoar and/or facets. The distribution and reactivity of this layer are not well understood. It is uncertain whether avalanches are failing on this layer.

Below the snowpack consists of melt freeze crusts, facets, and depth hoar in some areas. At treeline, snowpack depth ranges from 60 to 200 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 15 mm of precipitation falling as rain at lower elevations and wet snow at higher elevations. 30-60 km/hr southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures remain around 0 °C with an above-freezing layer.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 mm falling mostly as rain to the mountain top. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures may reach +3 °C. Freezing levels 2000 to 2500 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow at upper elevations, and wet snow or rain and low elevations. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures may reach +2 °C. Freezing levels 2000 to 2500 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures remain around 0 °C. Freezing levels near 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.