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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2021–Jan 12th, 2021

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.

Although we have not seen any in the park, recent large avalanches have been reported in neighbouring areas failing on deep weak layers. Dial back your terrain choices and avoid large overhead hazard, particularly slopes capped with cornices.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with flurries through the next three days. Winds will increase on Saturday night and continue through the next few days at least, reaching up to 115km/h at ridgetop on Monday. The inversion we have been experiencing will break down Sunday night, with alpine highs sitting around -4.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar is growing in most areas, but should be blown away by incoming winds. Upper elevations are heavily wind affected, and have recently grown throughout the park. The Dec 9th crust has not been reactive in the Waterton Region as of yet, but large triggers may awaken this weakness. Areas east of the divide hold a thin & faceted snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed in Saturday, but surrounding regions have reported sporadic large cornice triggered avalanches failing on deep weak layers in alpine terrain.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

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.

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.