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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2020–Jan 19th, 2020

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Rising temperatures and increasing winds will keep the hazard elevated over the next few days.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures are uncertain on Friday as the arctic air mass is displaced by warmer pacific air, with models giving us a wide range of townsite temperatures anywhere between -2 and -30 degrees celsius. What is certain is things will warm up over the next few days bringing flurries and moderate to strong ridgetop winds out of the west

Snowpack Summary

Continued low density storm snow will present itself as blower pow over facetted snow down low, and windslab as you transition into treeline terrain. The December crust (present up to 1800m) is deteriorating with cold temps. The mid snowpack has been facetting with cold temperatures, and a weak facet/ melt freeze crust still lurks at the base.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is 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.

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.