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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2024–Apr 22nd, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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.

With up to 20cm of new snow this week small new windslabs may exist in higher areas with dry snow. With warming temps on Saturday and Monday wet loose avalanches may run on an old crust. Spring is the time for bigger objectives however good snowpack awareness is still important.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of new snow is fell this week on top of a surface crust and a well-settled spring snowpack. Below treeline in the eastern areas of the park is generally below threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Sat

Clear skies with an alpine high of +2°C. Winds will be variable and light

Sun

Overcast with light flurries. Alpine high of -2°C. Winds moderate to strong SW.

Mon

Broken skies with an alpine high of +2°C. Winds moderate decreasing to light through the day from the W.

For more info: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.