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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2024–Dec 23rd, 2024

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Although it is now a few days since the most recent snowfall, new wind slab development remains a possibility with continued strong winds through the weekend.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of a natural wind slab avalanche cycle has been observed in the Cameron Lake and Cameron Valley area, with avalanches up to size 2.5. Notably, two wind slab avalanches from the south Forum ridge area ran from the ridge to lake elevation and broke the ice on the lake. These avalanches likely happened on Wednesday or Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Around 20 cm of new snow fell on Wednesday. This came in with westerly winds forming new windslabs in the alpine and treeline elevations. The new snow likely remains unconsolidated in sheltered treeline areas. Below treeline, there is a new, thin surface crust up to 1800 m.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 - 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Sat

Partly cloudy, ridgetop wind southwest 50 - 60 km/hr. Treeline high of +4°C

Sun

Scattered flurries overnight and early morning, then clearing. Treeline high of 0°C. Ridgetop wind 45 - 55 km/hr from the southwest.

Mon

Partly cloudy, strong southwest winds continuing with 40 - 60 km/hr at ridgetop. Treeline high of 0°C.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

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.