Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
Intense snowfall beginning late Saturday afternoon and overnight, will increase avalanche danger on Sunday. Conservative terrain with no overhead hazard is a good choice.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Cornices have triggered very large avalanches recently. Avoid lingering in runout zones below large corniced slopes, and stay well back from corniced ridge lines if traveling above them.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep slopes below cornices.
- Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Problem 3: Deep Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Several deeply buried weak layers have the potential to produce large avalanches reaching run out zones. Cornices have been a recent trigger for very large avalanches. Avoid shallow rocky snowpack areas where human triggering may also be possible.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
- Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.
Avalanche Summary
Friday, ski cuts and explosive control produced loose storm snow avalanches up to size 1.
On Thursday both natural and skier triggered wind slabs up to size 1.5 were reported as well as loose, storm snow releases from steep rocky terrain.
Tuesday we received reports of size 3 avalanches that were likely triggered by cornice fall last weekend and ran full path to valley bottom. See here for the MIN report.
Avalanche activity will increase as a result of Saturday's storm event. Expect widespread storm slab activity and new cornice growth with intense snowfall and wind-loading. Rapid loading also has the potential to wake up buried weak layers. Conservative terrain with no overhead hazard is recommended.
Snowpack Summary
About 20-40 cm on new snow and winds have led to the creation of wind slabs on leeward features at upper elevations on a wide range of aspects.
In sheltered areas near treeline and below, these slabs overly a layer of surface hoar buried mid-February that has produced very easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests.
The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two main concerns; a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep, and second, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.
Weather Forecast
TONIGHT: Snow. Accumulation 10-20 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, east. Temperature -16. Freezing level valley bottom.
SUNDAY: Cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind moderate to strong, northeast. Temperature -20. Freezing level valley bottom.
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light, northeast. Temperature -15. Freezing level valley bottom.
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light, southwest. Temperature -12. Freezing level valley bottom.
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.
New snow and wind will form touchy slabs, especially at higher elevations and in wind-exposed terrain. A slab release near the surface may step down and trigger deep persistent weak layers, resulting in large destructive avalanches.