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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2020–Feb 20th, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Lots of windslab in the front range but good skiing can be found in sheltered areas West of the divide.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries in the early AM. Light West Wind. Freezing level valley bottom.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Light to moderate West wind. Freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday: Mostly Sunny. Moderate SW wind. Freezing level rising to 1400m.

Snowpack Summary

Sheltered areas, such as Cameron Lake, are skiing well & only have a few isolated pockets of windslab at ridgetop. Wind exposed areas have new & old windslabs sitting over a melt freeze crust which exists up to 2200m. Reactivity of this crust is highly variable. The midpack is well settled, though weaker basal facets can be found in thin areas.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations in the past 48 hours.

Significant cornice growth noted in the alpine.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.