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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 14th, 2022–Mar 17th, 2022

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Tuesdays wet flurries will bring all forms of precipitation. Be prepared for snow or freezing rain depending on elevation.

As forecasting period progresses natural activity of storm slabs will taper but they will remain possible to human triggering.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Wet flurries, 5-10 cm. Mod gusting to strong SW winds. FL 1600m

Tue: Cloudy with wet flurries, 15 cm. Mod gusting extreme strong SW winds. Alpine high -1. FL 1800m.

Wed: Cloudy with sunny periods. Light gusting strong SW winds. Alpine high -3. FL 1500m.

Thur: Cloudy with sunny periods. Light gusting strong SW winds. Alpine high 0. FL 1600m.

Snowpack Summary

Below 1600m surface snow is moist down 50 cm. In alpine and treeline extreme SW winds and warm temps have pressed surface snow and continue to build new windslabs. This overlies old windslabs and the March 3 rain crust. Feb 15 crust down 60-100 cm exists up to 2000m. Lower snowpack is well settled 1F to P. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.

Avalanche Summary

Few natural wind slabs to size 2.5 were observed on SW-SE facing slopes through the weekend. As always keep those Mountain Information Network observations coming.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.