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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 19th, 2024–Jan 22nd, 2024

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 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.

With an increase in both wind and temperature Friday night and into Saturday, new windslabs will form in the alpine and at treeline. Use cautious route finding while these new slabs bond to old surfaces.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Several dry loose natural avalanches up to size 2 were observed in steep alpine features on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

20cm storm snow is being redistributed by moderate to strong SW winds. This new windslab overlies older windslabs 30 - 40 cm deep. Jan 7th facets and Dec 23rd crust are down 40-100 cm. Early season basal crust complex exists most places in the alpine and at treeline. Significantly less snow in the eastern areas of the park. Snowpack depths between 30 - 170 cm.

Weather Summary

Sat

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Trace precip with M-S SW winds. FL 1700m

Sun

Cloudy with scattered flurries. Light snow amounts 5cm moderate SW winds. FL 1600m

Mon

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Trace precip with moderate SW winds. FL 1600m

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.