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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2020–Mar 26th, 2020

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

New snow and continued wind will build slabs over the next few days. This is not the time to push the conditions as the healthcare system prepares to deal with COVID19.

Weather Forecast

10-20cm of snow is forecast arriving some time between Tuesday morning and Wednesday night. Winds will be moderate out of the west with a break on Wednesday afternoon. Freezing levels should remain at valley bottom with warmer temperatures and strong sunshine arriving on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

A supportive crust exists on the surface that will be buried by incoming snow. The exception is straight north facing slopes where new snow will fall on settled powder in sheltered areas, and wind slabs everywhere else. The mid pack is strong and well settled. Basal instabilities haven't been seen in some time, but are likely lurking in thin areas.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity in the last week has mainly been limited to loose wet avalanches up to size 2 on solar aspects with daytime warming. The exception was one loose avalanche that stepped down to a deep persistent slab in steep, rocky, unsupported terrain along the Akamina parkway.

Confidence

Timing of incoming weather systems 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.