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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2024–Mar 10th, 2024

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

The SPAW for our region has ended however dangerous avalanche conditions still persist, read more about this in the latest forecaster blog here.

Warm weather more snow and increased winds are forecast for our area, avalanche danger is expected to rise again this weekend.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Winds picked up on Wednesday and several new natural avalanches were observed to size 3.5 in steep lee features alpine and treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong winds forming windslabs. The upper snowpack is settling with warmer temps. Surface snow is becoming moist on solar aspects in the afternoon and refreezing overnight. Feb 3rd crust/facets are down 60-120 cm. Below this, snowpack is a well settled facet crust complex. Snowpack depths between 80 - 230 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday

Mostly clear skies with an alpine high of -5°C. Winds moderate to strong SW. No precip.

Sat

Partially Cloudy, alpine high of -2°C. Freezing levels rise to 1850m. Light snow will start in the evening 5-10cm. Winds will be strong to extreme, SW.

Sun

Light flurries in the morning and partly cloudy by the afternoon. Winds decrease to moderate-strong SW. Alpine high of -5°C

For more info: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.

Problems

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.

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.