Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 30th, 2019–Jan 2nd, 2020

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Snow from last weeks storm is settling well but the variable sensitivity of a weak facet/crust combo at the base of snowpack requires a cautions approach to terrain. 

Weather Forecast

Tuesday- . Increasing cloud cover through the day with scattered flurries. West wind 50km/h gusting to 80 km/h. Freezing level 1200m.

Tuesday Night- Expecting 2-5 mm of precip by Wed AM.

Wednesday- A mix of sun and cloud with Strong - Moderate wind. Isolated flurries. Freezing Level 1400m

Thursday- A mix of Sun and cloud with a chance of flurries.

Snowpack Summary

Strong Westerly winds continue to develop Windslab at treeline & above. A deteriorating melt freeze crust exists on all aspects up to 1800m. Above 1800m, 85-120cm of well settled snow from last weeks storm sits on top of a weak facet/ melt freeze crust near the base of the snowpack. Reactivity of this basal weakness is variable & warrants caution.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity last 3 days.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.