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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 12th, 2020–Mar 15th, 2020

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

An intense upslope storm is arriving on Friday elevating the hazard rapidly for the weekend. This will be a good time to avoid avalanche terrain.

Weather Forecast

An intense upslope storm is arriving on Friday bringing heavy snowfall, plummeting temperatures and strong NE winds through to Sunday night. Precipitation amounts are uncertain but accumulation will be highest on eastern slopes. Expect 30-60cm over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of new snow from convective flurries yesterday overlies wind affected surfaces including windslab and crusts from the extreme wind event earlier in the week. The midpack is strong, though weaker basal facets still lurk in thin areas.

Cornices are large and looming.

Avalanche Summary

Multiple size 1- 1.5 dry loose avalanches observed in steep alpine lee slopes on Thursday.

Surrounding areas have reported Natural and explosive triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2 in alpine features on Wednesday.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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 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.