Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 21st, 2022–Feb 24th, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

East wind is coming. Watch out for atypical wind loading especially over previously thin areas.

Cold temps will persist for a couple more days, bring your layers and hot drinks and have a good trip plan.

Weather Forecast

Tues: Cold temps continue with an alpine high of -25. Light fluries expected and rigetop winds from S-M out of the east.

Wed: Temps rising in the afternoon to -13 in the alpine under clear skies. Winds L-M from the north and east

Thurs: Temps continuing to rise with an alpine high of -10. Partially cloudy with S-M winds from the north.

Snowpack Summary

25-40cm of new storm snow has fallen with cooling temps and light wind. This overlies pressed surfaces and hard windslabs from previous extreme SW winds. A melt freeze crust up to 2000m and higher on solar aspects is found 20-50 cm down, no failures yet in test profiles on this layer. Well settled midpack. Dec 4 crust, buried 150-200 cm.

Avalanche Summary

Several small loose dry natural avalanches observed from steep rocky terrain. Poor visibility on field days in the last two days. If you go out on an adventure be sure to share your experience and snowpack information on the Mountain Information Network, we really appreciate any observations.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.