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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2024–Apr 16th, 2024

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Temperatures have remained high for the past two days with another hot day forecast for tomorrow. Poor overnight refreezes mean the snowpack will quickly weaken with daytime warming. If you plan to get out, start early and finish early.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wet loose avalanches have been observed in the past two days, these have mostly been size 1-2. Larger naturals up to size 3 have been observed in isolated areas.

Snowpack Summary

Alpine/Treeline - Moist surface snow all aspects with weak surface crust forming overnight. This overlies a generally well settled lower snowpack. Feb 03 crust/facets may still exist at high elevations and is buried 100-120 cm deep.

Below Treeline - Moist faceted snow to ground. Most solar aspects are now below threshold for avalanches

Weather Summary

Sun

An alpine high of +10°C with clear skies. Light SW winds, freezing level 3000 m.

Mon

Partly cloudy, freezing level falling to 2500 m. Ridgetop winds moderate from the SW. Alpine high of +5°C.

Tues

Periods of snow with 5 - 10 cm accumulation over the day. Alpine high around -2°C. Light NE ridgetop winds.

For more info: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.

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.

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.