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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 28th, 2021–Dec 31st, 2021

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Cold temps will persist this week. Be prepared with lots of layers and warm drinks. Plan to be out of the backcountry early as the days are still short.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Clear with west winds increasing after lunchtime to 80km at ridge top. Cold temps with a high of -20.

Thursday: Overcast and flurries, wind decreasing through the day. High -18.

Friday: Clearing light wind High -22.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong winds have built windslabs up to 30 cm deep on top of 60-90 cm of unconsolidated storm snow. This overlies old windslabs 40-60 cm thick and facets above the Dec 4 crust. A 20-60 cm thick Nov MFcr complex completes the snowpack to ground. HS at TL is 130 - 180cm

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported this week. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

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.

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.