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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 30th, 2023–Jan 31st, 2023

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 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, Waterton.

Sustained strong wind (SW) is in the forecast which will continue to distribute snow and create wind slabs at tree-line and above. Be especially cautious in lee areas.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Three wind slabs up to size 1.5 were observed from the Akamina Parkway today (Jan 30). They likely occurred within the last 24 hours.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong, variable wind has redistributed recent storm snow (20cm near the Divide and 40-50cm in the Eastern park) into wind slabs. This overlies old wind slabs or the mid-January crust that exists to 2400m. The mid-pack is well settled and overlies basal facets and depth hoar, especially in thin areas.

Weather Summary

Wind in the strong to extreme range from the NW will persist through until Thursday. Temperatures will also slowly rise to -5 in the valley and -7 at the ridge by Thursday. Trace accumulations of snow may occur on Wednesday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

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.