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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 18th, 2021–Dec 19th, 2021
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Waterton Lakes.

30 cm of unconsolidated snow is being redistributed by strong SW winds. Use caution in lees.

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Mix of Sun and cloud. Light west winds. Alpine temps high -10. Freezing levels valley bottom

Monday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Moderate south west winds. Alpine temps high -9. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Tuesday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Strong west winds. Alpine temps high -5. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

30 cm of unconsolidated snow is being redistributed by moderate gusting to extreme SW winds. This overlies a 20-40cm buried windslab ALP/TL atop 10cm of facet above the Dec 4 rain crust. A 20-60 cm thick Nov melt freeze crust complex completes the snowpack to ground. BTL has just reached threshold in some places. Snow depth at TL is 100 - 170.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported. Field observations limited due to visibility. If you go out into the mountains please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

30 cm of unconsolidated snow is being redistributed by strong winds and is creating surface windslabs. In addition a buried 20 to 40cm windslab sits on the Dec rain crust.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
  • Use caution on steep lee and cross-loaded slopes

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

No avalanches observed on this layer this week, however with a large enough trigger this layer could produce results.

  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Loose Dry

Saturdays storm snow  may remain unconsolidated in steep sheltered locations.

  • Be careful of loose dry sluffing in steep, confined or exposed terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2