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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 19th, 2020–Dec 22nd, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Our new snow is delayed until early next week but the strong to extreme winds have arrived as scheduled. Watch out for pockets of intense wind loading.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: 10cm snow at Cameron Lake with wet snow in townsite. Freezing level 1500m. Strong to Extreme West Wind.

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy with scattered flurries. Strong West wind with gusts over 100km/h.

Monday: 15-20 cm of snow with freezing level at 1900m. Continued strong winds.

Snowpack Summary

At Cameron lake: 25cm of storm snow has been redistributed by strong SW wind. This has created thick wind slabs which sit over the Dec 9th melt freeze crust. The mid snowpack is well consolidated with a ice crust forming the base of the snowpack. Treeline snow depth at Cameron lake up to 1.5m with amounts tapering quickly at lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches observed.

Confidence

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.