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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 4th, 2021–Jan 7th, 2021

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Sheltered areas low on Forum ridge still hold some good skiing but widespread wind slab development requires careful terrain selection. Use caution in terrain that is heavily wind loaded and give cornices a wide berth.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday- Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.  Freezing level at valley bottom with moderate to strong SW wind.

Wednesday- Cloudy with sunny periods. freezing level 1200m. SW winds strong in the morning, decreasing to moderate in the afternoon.

Thursday- Cloudy with isolated flurries. Freezing level rising to 1600m. Light to Mod SW wind.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of recent storm snow has transitioned to wind slab in most areas. Fresh wind slabs sit over a persistent slab which rests on the Dec 9 crust. The Dec 9th crust is buried 30-80cm deep in the Cameron Lake area. Multiple crusts & facets form the base of the snowpack. Areas east of the divide hold a thin and structurally weaker snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 natural storm slab avalanche occurred between Jan 2nd and 3rd on a path off Mt. Rowe on the Akamina Parkway.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.