Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
Seek sheltered terrain and shady aspects for decent riding conditions. Watch for signs of instability if the sun comes out.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
Avalanche Problem 2: Deep Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Several persistent weak layers exist at the base of the snowpack. Possible trigger spots may be found in shallower inconsistent (thin-thick) snowpack areas or around rocks and trees.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be aware of triggering thin areas that may propagate to deep instabilities more easily.
- Minimize your exposure to overhead avalanche terrain.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been observed.
Snowpack Summary
A variety of snow surfaces exist throughout the region. Stiff wind slabs sit on a wide range of aspects in the alpine and exposed treeline terrain. Windward slopes have been scoured down to the old rain crust or rock and sun crusts have formed on southerly slopes from the sun and recent warm temperatures. Sheltered treeline and below treeline slopes may have a light dusting of low-density snow that intermingle with surface hoar and surface facets. This is what I call a mixed bag!!
The two crusts that were buried near the end of November can now be found approximately 30 cm and 60 cm down. A third crust from the end of October exists as a "facet/crust" combo near the base of the snowpack. Snowpack testing in the adjacent Kananaskis Country forecast region has yielded hard but sudden results on this layer.
Average snowpack depths at upper elevations in the region range from about 50-100 cm.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -1 and freezing levers 1200 m. Ridgetop winds light from the west. Alpine temperature inversion exists.
Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures near -1 and freezing levels 1400 m. Ridgetop winds light from the west.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Alpine temperatures near 0 degrees and freezing levels 1000 m. Strong alpine temperature inversion expected. Light west winds.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for more details.
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Variable winds from last week have formed stiff wind slabs on a wide range of aspects at higher elevations.