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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 21st, 2022–Apr 24th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Wet Loose avalanches are the primary concern due to high freezing levels. Use extra caution on sun effected slopes and during periods of peak warming.

 

Weather Forecast

Friday: Flurries with 5mm or rain in townsite and snow near Cameron Lake.  Variable light winds up to 15km/h. Freezing level (FL) 2100m.

Sat: Cloudy with sunny period with isolated showers/ flurries. Light N winds. FL2200m.

Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods. SW winds 15-30km/h. FL 2200m.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of new snow in the past 24h arrived with uncharacteristically light winds. A total of 10-40cm of snow sits over the april rain / temperature crust which exists at all elevations & aspects. Moist surface snow found up to 2200m on thursday caused by inversion. Well consolidated mid and lower snowpack. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.

Avalanche Summary

Continued size 1 wet loose avalanches observed throughout the day Thursday. Wet loose activity is expected to increase as freezing levels remain high throughout the week with weak freezes overnight.  Please report any observations to the Mountain Information Network we appreciate the info as neighboring operations are shut down for the season.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.