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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 7th, 2024–Feb 10th, 2024

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

15-20 cm of new snow fell at Cameron Lake over the weekend, with a little more forecast this week. Be careful of sluffing in steep terrain, loose avalanches may run fast on the smooth crust underneath.

Enjoy the light winds while they last!

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural dry and wet loose avalanches to size 2 were observed this week. A few natural slab avalanches to size 2.

Snowpack Summary

20 cm of new snow with a thin surface crust on solar aspects. Below the new snow a thick melt freeze crust exists at all aspects and elevations. Below this, the snowpack is moist to ground at treeline and below, now slowly refreezing. The Dec 23rd and basal crusts are currently less of a concern due to the effect of significant warming last week and anticipated refreeze. Significantly less snow in the eastern areas of the park. Snowpack depths between 30 - 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Thurs

Cloudy with scattered flurries. Winds light to moderate from the west. Alpine high of -5 degrees.

Fri

Up to 10 cm of new snow overnight, clearing through the day. Light NW winds, alpine high of -8 degrees.

Sat

Mix of sun and cloud with light NW winds. Alpine high of -10 degrees.

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.