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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 30th, 2021–Jan 2nd, 2022

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

The presence of breakable windslabs makes ski quality variable. Look for sheltered terrain to preserve your knees.

Weather Forecast

Friday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Light NE winds. Alpine high -21.

Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Mod-strog west winds. Alpine High -15 Low -22.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud. Strong west winds. Alpine High -8 Low -15.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme SW winds have formed 10 cm firm wind slab on top of christmas storm snow. Beneath this lies a series of right side up wind slabs. Facets are found above Dec 4 crust down 80-120 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov crust complex completes the snowpack to ground. No results on compression test from pits dug on Forum Ridge on Dec 30.

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of natural avalanche cycle, size 1- 2, with overnight extreme winds. A natural 2.5 was observed on Mount Custer, likely wind triggered. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

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.