Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2020–Dec 27th, 2020

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.
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.

Looks like Santa has a tailwind this year! Strong winds on Thursday have created new windslabs. If triggered these could step down to deeper layers causing large avalanches. Be conservative in your terrain choices and stay safe for the holidays!

Weather Forecast

Friday: Sun and Cloud with moderate SW winds and in inversion. High -3

Saturday: Cloudy with Flurries with Moderate SW winds. High -5

Sunday: Cloudy with Flurries and light winds. High -8.

Snowpack Summary

30cm of recent snow has been transported by strong SW-W winds. In the Cameron Lake area wind affect is less prevalent. A new rain crust (December 23) exists down 15cm below 1900m. Above this elevation, the December 9th melt freeze crust may remain a problem. The midpack is well consolidated with an ice crust forming the base of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A few recent naturally triggered wind slabs were noted on Thursday to size 2 in southeast through northeast treeline features along the Akamina Parkway.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

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.