Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2021–Dec 6th, 2021

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Break out your hiking boots or trail runners. Recent rain events have reduced the snowpack to dirt in most areas below 1800m. Waterfall ice has also been reset on all low elevation climbs.

Weather Forecast

Saturday: 10 - 15 cm snow expected throughout the day, moderate SW winds increasing through the day, Alpine temp -4. FL 1400 m.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud, moderate SW winds. Alpine temps -15. FL valley bottom.

Monday: Cloudy with chance of flurries. Alpine temps - 15. Light W winds. FL valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm windslabs in the ALP. Extreme winds have formed a variable snowpack at alpine and treeline, snow is stripped to ground in many locations and deeper in isolated lees. At least one Nov MFcr exists above 2000m. Estimated 30-100 cm snow in the alpine. Rain washed away snow below 1800 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed on road patrol today. Observations in the area are very limited, if you go out into the mountains please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.