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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2022–Jan 20th, 2022

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Numerous days of warm temps are deteriorating ice climbs. Look for shady or north facing climbs as ice rebuilds.

Hoping for more snow on Tuesday to improve ski quality.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries, 10-15 cm accumulation. Moderate west winds. Alpine high -15. FL valley bottom.

Wednesday: Clearing through day. Moderate west winds. Alpine high -8. FL valley bottom.

Thursday: Partially cloudy with flurries. Strong extreme  west winds. Alpine high -5. FL 1500m.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels on monday rose to 2100m. A 15 cm rain crust exist up to 2000m. A 1 cm temp crust exists to 2400m on solar aspects. Alpine surfaces range from hard windslab in lees and to bare ground. Well settled midpack. Facets above Dec 4 crust down 150-200 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov crust complex completes snowpack to ground.

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of previous cycle (Jan 8-12), with avalanches from size 2 - 4 can still be seen in most avalanche paths. No new avalanches reported or observed today. Limited field observations. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work, we really do read them.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are 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.

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.