Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Recently formed windslabs are now being buried by light snowfall
Avalanche forecast
View on mapWaterton Lakes
Dec 29, 2015 – Jan 1, 2016Parks Canada
Archived · expired 11 years ago
Avalanche danger
Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Highlights
With the longterm forecast calling for a tenacious ridge of high pressure to keep things cool and dry into the new year, it would be wise to get out and take advantage of the great start we've been having to the season.
Avalanche problems
Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely
- Size
- 1–3
A large natural slab avalanche was observed last wednesday, this may have released at a buried crust from early December. For now, it is unclear if this will remain an isolated event, or if this layer is becoming more sensitive to loads.
Loose Dry
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1
Small sluffs may trigger previous windslabs
Weather Forecast
Flurries will tapper off through Tuesday morning as a ridge of high pressure embeds itself over our area, total expected snow accumulations are 5-7cm. This ridge is forecast to persist through Thursday, giving seasonably cool temperatures (day time highs of up to -5 and overnight lows as low as -19) with light to moderate winds from the SW.
Snowpack Summary
Light snow is currently burying windslabs formed by this weekend's Mod-Strong SW winds. Below, old layers of settling storm and wind slab are interspersed with two thin layers of facets and possibly surface hoar which continue to slowly stabilize. This overlies the Dec 9th crust (down 50-90cm), still a concern as a developing weak interface.
Avalanche Summary
Several natural size 1-2 slab avalanches were observed yesterday, likely triggered by loading and slab development from the weekends wind event.