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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2023–Apr 27th, 2023

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Hazard will be increased with daytime warming, pay special attention to solar slopes especially if the sky clears.

Travel may be very difficult in the afternoon as snowpack transitions to isothermal.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Earlier this week a small wet loose cycle occurred in the new surface snow. Avalanches to size 2 were observed on all aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Warm daytime temps and strong overnight refreezes have formed a surface crust complex on all aspects at all elevations. In the afternoon expect snow to turn isothermal. The January melt freeze crust is buried up to 100cm. Alpine and Treeline midpack is well settled and overlies basal facets and depth hoar. Most places the snowpack is now moist to ground.

Weather Summary

Tues-Thurs

Temps continue to rise over the next three days. Alpine temps near +5 are possible with broken skies. Some convective flurries are possible over the next couple days before the larger high-pressure ridge sets up on the weekend. Winds will be moderate SW.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, or solar radiation is strong.

Problems

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.