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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 13th, 2020–Jan 16th, 2020

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

Low density snow and very light winds have been a rare treat in Waterton for the past two days. Be mindful of a rapidly building windslab hazard when the wind returns.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with flurries. 5cm of snow. Light East wind during the day becoming Moderate SW in the afternoon.

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Moderate SW wind

Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Snowpack Summary

10-50 cm of light storm snow over a deteriorating windslab. New snow is producing loose dry avalanches in steep terrain but this will transition into surface Windslab Tues night. The Dec crust (present up to 1800m) is deteriorating with cold temps. The mid snowpack is well settled in deep areas but a weak facet/ melt freeze crust lurks at the base.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Confidence

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.