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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2022–Jan 10th, 2022

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Akamina Parkway is CLOSED to vehicles, stay tuned in to 511 for updates.

Foot access to Akamina and Red Rock Parkway remains open.

Weather Forecast

Monday: Mix of sun and cloud. moderate to strong winds. Alpine high -5. Freezing level 1300m.

Tuesday: Overcast, with 10cm of snow. Winds light to moderate. Alpine high -3, freezing level 1500m

Wednesday: Overcast, with 10cm of snow. Winds light to moderate. Alpine high -2, freezing level 1600m

Snowpack Summary

X winds and warmth have transported yesterdays 65cm of snow into windslabs up to 1.5m deep, this sits atop a 10 - 30 cm hard wind slab. Mid pack is well settled. Facets are found above Dec 4 crust down 150-200cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov crust complex completes the snowpack to ground. One significant size 4 Avalanche on Dec 4 crust today.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche cycle with several avalanches size 1-3 observed today. One significant size 4 avalanche on Mt Bertha that ran full path and buried the hiking trail in 10m of debris. Suspect this large result initiated on Dec 4 crust. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work, we really do read them.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

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.