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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2022–Apr 21st, 2022

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

After a glorious week of calm in Waterton the wind is back with a vengeance Tuesday night. Watch for wind slabs in alpine lees where snow is available for transport.

We are back to spring weather. Watch for signs of instability as temp rise each day.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Wet flurries, amounting 5 cm. Extreme SW winds.

Tues: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. ALP high -3. Moderate gusting extreme W winds. FL 1600m.

Wed: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. ALP high -4. Light gusting strong W winds. FL 1800m.

Thur: Cloudy with isolated wet flurries. ALP high of 0. Light SW winds. FL 2100m

Snowpack Summary

25-30 cm snow overlies april rain crust on all elevations, all aspects. Snow surface became wet to 2000m on Monday. Well consolidated mid and lower snowpack. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.

Avalanche Summary

Few wet loose avalanches to size 1.5 with high freezing levels Monday. No new avalanches reported on Saturday. Please report any observations to the Mountain Information Network we really appreciate the information as neighboring operations are shutting down for the season.

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.