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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 26th, 2021–Mar 1st, 2021

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=http://www.avalanche.ca/spaw/special-public-avalanche-warning-for-north-and-south

A weak layer of facets formed during the previous cold snap has been loaded by recent wind and snow and may be reaching a critical threshold for human triggering. Consider the consequences of an unexpectedly large avalanche.

Weather Forecast

Friday: Cloudy with scattered flurries. 5-10cm of snow. Alpine high of -2. Moderate West wind with strong gusts.

Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Trace amounts of snow. Alpine high of -8. Moderate to Strong West wind.

Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine high of -6 . Strong West winds.

Snowpack Summary

Extreme SW-W winds have hammered the snowpack, distributing up to 40cm of recent storm snow and forming slabs. These sit on the weak February 14 facet layer which is above a melt freeze crust at treeline and below. The remainder of the midpack is made up of dense facets and decomposing crusts, with early season ice crusts forming the base.

Avalanche Summary

Few recent observations in the park due to the recent closure of the Akamina Parkway. Neighboring operations have reported skier remote and skier triggered persistent slabs on the February 14 facet layer with scary near misses.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

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.