Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
Although the temperature is forecast to remain cool at upper elevations, when the sun does come out it can have an immediate impact on those slopes directly facing it.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for newly formed wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- 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?
Deeply buried weak layers are lingering near the base of the snowpack. These layers are most likely to be triggered from thin or variable snowpack areas or with a large load like a cornice fall.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Avalanche Summary
Over the past week there have been reports of both natural and skier triggered loose dry avalanches in steep terrain to size 1.5.
Snowpack Summary
Accumulated storm snow from last week totals 25-40cm. This new snow covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally weak with two primary concerns that are widespread:
- A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.
- A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Mix of sun, cloud and isolated flurries / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -10
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest wind / Alpine temperature -9
THURSDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -5
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- South Rockies URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/south-rockies.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
The recent new snow came in as fluff. There is now lots of new snow available to be transported into alpine and treeline lee terrain features with forecast west and southwest wind in the coming days.