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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2020–Mar 5th, 2020

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

A rapid drop in temperature has settled the upper snowpack but pockets of reactive windslab still exist in alpine start zones. Hazard will be higher than forecast if snowfall amounts are more than 15cm on Wednesday.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. 5 mm precipitation. West wind 50km/h gusting 80. Freezing level 1500m.

Wednesday: Flurries. 5-10cm snow. Strong West wind with extreme gusts. Freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. No precipitation. Strong SW wind. Freezing level valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Waterton received 15cm of snow Sunday with strong-extreme SW wind. This has added to a surface windslab which sits over a variety of surfaces including suncrust, old windslab & the Feb.1 melt freeze crust. Recent rapid cooling has settled the upper snowpack significantly. The midpack is strong, though weaker basal facets still lurk in thin areas.

Avalanche Summary

No new observations.

Significant cornice growth at Cameron Lake.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday

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.