Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2020–Feb 6th, 2020

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Cool temperatures and a thick crust on the surface has left us with a very stable snowpack at lower elevations. If you climb into the upper treeline and alpine where the crust did not form, be on the lookout for windslabs.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Strong westerly winds, alpine high -13

Wednesday: Sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Strong to extreme westerly winds, and rising temperatures. Alpine high -6.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. Light to moderate west winds, alpine high -12

Snowpack Summary

A thick melt freeze crust exists up to 2000m, capped by 5cm of new snow that has been transported by westerly winds. The alpine is highly wind affected by prevous west winds, with many windward areas completely stripped of snow, and lee areas containing wind slabs. The midpack is strong and well settled near the divide.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

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.