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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2022–Jan 6th, 2022

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

If 24 hour precipitation amounts exceed  30 cm hazard will increase to HIGH on Tuesday.

Be aware of potential for dry loose avalanches above ice climbs.

Weather Forecast

Another 20 cm of snow expected atop our current 15 cm tonight.

Tuesday: Overcast with flurries. Moderate W winds. Temp inversion, High -7 in AL, and -25 expected in town.

Wednesday: Partially cloudy. Light N winds. High -18.

Thursday: Cloudy with flurries increasing in PM. Strong WSW winds. High -12.

Snowpack Summary

15 cm of new snow sitting atop 10 - 30 cm hard wind slabs. Mid pack is well settled. Facets are found above Dec 4 crust down 80-120 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov crust complex completes the snowpack to ground.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observed with poor visibility. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

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.

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.