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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 23rd, 2020–Jan 26th, 2020

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 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.

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Overnight freezing levels will be high, allowing warm temperatures to saturate the front range snowpack. Watch out for wet loose avalanches at tree line and below east of the divide.

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: Freezing level 1600m with 1- 2 mm of precipitation.

Friday: Mainly Cloudy. Freezing level 1800m. Moderate to Strong SW wind. 1-2 mm of precipitation.

Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Freezing level 1400m. Wind SW.

Sunday: Cloudy.1-5mm of precipitation. Freezing level 1400m.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme SW winds have formed wind slabs at all elevations. These windslabs have the potential to trigger weak layers deep in the snowpack during this warm period. The base of the snowpack consists of crusts and weak facets formed early in the season. The snowpack east of the divide is significantly shallower and inherently weaker.

Avalanche Summary

Public report of Natural Sz 1-1.5 loose wet avalanche activity at Bertha Lake on Thursday January 23.

Confidence

Freezing levels 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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.