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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2022–Mar 25th, 2022

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Increased avalanche activity at peak solar will be the primary concern. Pay close attention to the aspect of the slopes you are traveling on and the strength of the sun.

Weather Forecast

Wed: Partially cloudy with alpine temps rising to +4. Winds M-S from the west. FL 2800m

Thur: Partially cloudy with trace precip. Alpine temps around zero. Winds decreasing through the day. FL 2000m

Fri: Partially cloudy with alpine temps around zero. Winds M-SW. FL 2000m

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs 20-60cm deep at alpine and treeline. Below 2000m is a melt freeze crust of varying thickness. This overlies old windslabs and the March 3 rain crust. Feb 15 crust down 70-120 cm exists up to 2000m. Lower snowpack is well settled 1F to P. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural loose wet avalanches to sz 1.5 were observed this week from steep terrain and rocks at peak solar. Several natural windslab avalanches, sz 1 -2, were observed in alpine lees on the weekend. Please report any observations to the Mountain Information Network

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation 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.