Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Dec 5, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Lingering wind slab and persistent slab problems are keeping avalanche danger in a holding pattern. Sunshine and warming are set to undermine stability later in the week.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Stiff wind slabs could be reactive to rider triggers at treeline and in the alpine on leeward and cross-loaded slopes.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    There are several crusts now buried within the snowpack. Use extra caution in thin snowpack areas where it may be possible to trigger a deeper layer. Triggering a wind slab may also have the potential to step-down to a deeper layer.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud and no new snow. Light northwest winds. Alpine temperatures around -5.Wednesday: Mainly sunny. Light west winds. Freezing level rising to 1300 metres with a strong alpine temperature inversion beginning in the afternoon. Alpine temperatures around -4 and rising with the onset of the inversion. Thursday: Mainly sunny. Light west winds. Freezing level rising to 3500 metres with alpine temperatures around +5. Cooler temperatures at lower elevations due to strong alpine temperature inversion.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported from this region. There is potential for triggering wind slabs on leeward slopes and dry loose avalanches from steeper terrain features. Smaller avalanches may step down and trigger larger avalanches on buried weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Please submit your observations this weekend to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack remains highly variable with very little information regarding snowpack structure within the region. Average snowpack depths at upper elevations range from 60-110 cm with scoured snow surfaces on southwesterly slopes and deeper pockets of wind slab on northeasterly slopes. Below the surface exists a series of crusts that were buried near the end of November approximately 40 cm and 70 cm down. Deeper in the snowpack a third crust from the end of October exists as a "facet/crust" combo and has been identified as a potential sliding interface where snowpack testing North of the region (Kananaskis Country) has yielded hard but sudden results on this layer.

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