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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 21st, 2023–Dec 24th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Rain and warm temps have caused winter sports conditions to continue to deteriorate. Many areas of the park are snow-free again and summer sports would be possible. See this MIN for photos of conditions at Cameron Lake. Enthusiastic skiers could probably find turns high in the alpine but may want to start in approach shoes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed. No field days and poor vis into high alpine features where snow has accumulated.

Snowpack Summary

Rain has been saturating the snowpack up to 2000 m. At high elevations up to 15cm of new snow has been transported into a new windslab. This overlies old wind slabs and basal crust in the alpine. Due to warm temps and rain there is very little snow on the ground below 1800 m.

Weather Summary

Fri

Flurries, with strong to extreme winds. Freezing levels remain high at 2000m

Sat

Light snow 4-8cm expected with light to moderate NW winds. Freezing levels fall to valley bottom.

Sun

Flurries and light to moderate winds. Freezing levels remain at valley bottom.

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

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.