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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Continued strong winds and a temperature swing from -30° to 0° will keep the hazard elevated over the next few days, especially in thinner snowpack areas. 

Weather Forecast

Saturday: 5cm of new snow with continued strong westerly winds, with an alpine high of -10.

Sunday: Mainly sunny with isolated flurries with continued strong west wind and a high of -1

Monday: Sun and cloud with (you guessed it) strong west winds, and freezing levels rising to 1700m

Snowpack Summary

25-40cm of recent storm snow remains light and fluffy in sheltered areas, but has been heavily wind affected at upper elevations by west winds, especially towards the divide. The midpack is facetted in the front ranges, but remains strong and well settled in the Cameron lake area. The base of the snowpack consists of a weak facet layer.

Avalanche Summary

A couple small windslabs were observed in steep ridgetop lees along the Akamina Parkway.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday

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.