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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2020–Mar 1st, 2020

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

Rising temperatures coupled with a developing windslab hazard warrant caution despite the moderate - low hazard ratings.

Weather Forecast

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. West wind 50km/h gusting 70.  Freezing level rising to 1900m during the day.

Friday Night: 2-4 cm of snow . West wind 60km/h gusting 90.

Saturday. Partial cloud with isolated flurries. Up to 5 cm snow. Freezing Level 1400m.

Sunday:  Mostly sunny. Moderate West wind switching NW midday. Freezing level valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Strong westerly winds continue to develop windslabs in lee areas. Surface windslabs sit on a variety of surfaces including old windslab, suncrust & the Feb.1 melt freeze crust. Expect windslabs to be more reactive on solar aspects particularly during warm temps on Friday. The midpack is strong, though weaker basal facets can be found in thin areas.

Avalanche Summary

No new observations.

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.

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.