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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 17th, 2016–Dec 20th, 2016

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.

Change is in the winds! Wind Slabs should be obvious (when glimpsed through the blowing snow): avoidance is key. Avoidance of the outdoors might be another good strategy, with forecast winds in excess of 100 kph.

Weather Forecast

A return to a Westerly flow introduces a warming trend and extreme winds.Sun: Strong-Extreme Westerly winds. Cloudy. Temperature inversion. Rising temps at all elevations, with Treeline the coldest at -15.Mon: Extreme Westerly winds. 5-15cm of snowfall. -9 at Treeline.Tues: Moderate SW winds, -7 at Treeline,  Light snowfall beginning.

Snowpack Summary

In Eastern areas, Strong winds have scoured slopes, or created hard Wind Slabs over facets. Closer to the divide, 25cm of soft snow is being blown into Wind Slabs on most lee slopes. Expect this to ramp up with extreme winds creating Wind Slabs low on slopes, and in other unusual places. These, and older wind slabs, overlie a faceted midpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new Natural avalanche activity has been observed since Wednesday.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is 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.