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

Feb 16th, 2021–Feb 19th, 2021

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

Time to start reeling it in a bit...

Southwest wind is stiffening wind slabs and hiding previous reverse loading. 

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine high -10 with Moderate SW wind.

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine high -10 with Light to Moderate SW wind.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with and Alpine high of -8. Moderate SW wind.

Snowpack Summary

Last weeks snow is settling well in sheltered areas at Cameron Lake but pockets of wind slab continue to develop in unusual places due to variable wind direction. Surface snow sits over old wind slab which overlies a melt freeze crust below 1900m. Mid snowpack is well consolidated but becomes faceted and shallow east of the Cameron Lake area.

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 natural avalanche occurred on a West aspect of Buchanan Ridge (AKA Argulite towers)  on a cross loaded gully feature. See MIN report for pictures.

Loose Dry activity observed over the weekend in steep terrain in the Alpine and at treeline.

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.