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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2024–Feb 26th, 2024

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

A proper winter storm is on the doorstep, it will arrive with snow and wind over the next few days. Expect a natural cycle on the Feb 3rd crust/facet combo, as well as it being primed for human triggering

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural slab avalanches to size 2 were observed on a field day in Rowe Meadows on Tuesday. Suspect these avalanches are failing on the Feb 03 Crust/Facet combo. Several small wet loose avalanches were observed on steep features below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme winds have built hard windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. The upper snowpack became moist on all aspects on Thursday and is now re-freezing into crust. Steep solar slopes have several suncrusts at all elevations, from recent spring-like weather. The Feb 3rd crust is down 30-60cm and has a thin layer of weak facets above it. The lower snowpack is a well-settled crust/facet complex to ground. Average snowpack depths are between 100 - 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Sat

Cloudy, light snow up to 5cm. Strong to extreme SW winds with an alpine high of -5°C

Sun

Overcast, snow intensifying into the evening, 10-15 cm possible. Most intense precip in the SW corner of the park. Strong to extreme winds and an alpine high of -5°C

Mon

Overcast with light snow up to 10cm. Winds decreasing to light through the day. Temps fall to -20°C in the alpine.

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.

Problems

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.

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.