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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 12th, 2019–Dec 15th, 2019

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

This is a great time to make conservative decisions as we are getting acquainted with early season persistent weak layers. The Akamina Parkway is closed for construction until December 21.

Weather Forecast

Friday: Cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5cm of snow. Moderate NW to W winds, alpine high -7.

Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Light west winds, Alpine high -12.

Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods and light to moderate westerly winds. Alpine high -12.

Snowpack Summary

15-25cm previous storm snow coupled with strong to extreme west winds has formed new slabs in the alpine and treeline. A melt freeze crust facet combo formed at the start of the season sits at the bottom of the snowpack. Though unlikely to be triggered by people, it is not impossible and we have seen other avalanches stepping down to this layer.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been seen in the park, but recently we have seen windslabs stepping down to early season weak layers on east aspects in the alpine, and surrounding ski areas have been getting results to size 2 with explosives.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.