Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2.5
Strong southwest winds have created stiff wind slabs in lee features. New snow will make buried windslab difficult to spot.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapWaterton Lakes
Jan 31 – Feb 3, 2020Parks Canada
Archived · expired 7 years ago
Avalanche danger
Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
15-30 mm of precipitation is expected with freezing levels rising to 2000m Friday-Saturday. Avoid avalanche terrain on Saturday and be mindful of your overhead hazard.
Avalanche problems
Storm Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Very Likely
- Size
- 1–2.5
The snowpack is extremely variable in depth and strength. Rapid loading in expected to cause a widespread natural avalanche cycle late Friday into Saturday.
Loose Wet
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely - Possible
- Size
- 1.5–3
High freezing levels and a total of 10-30mm of precipitation may cause storm slabs to entrain wet loose avalanches at lower elevations.
Weather Forecast
Friday: Cloudy with rain & snow. Freezing level 2000m. Strong SW wind with gusts of 100km/h. 5-10mm of precipitation with periods of freezing rain.
Saturday: Cloudy with rain & snow. Freezing level 1800m. Strong-extreme SW winds with gusts of 120 km/h. 10-15mm of precipitation.
Sunday: Mostly Cloudy, isolated flurries. Freezing level valley bottom.
Snowpack Summary
Melt freeze crust up to 2000m. This surface crust will increase reactivity of storm snow arriving Fri/Sat. The upper snowpack consist of a 20-70cm windslab sitting over a well settled midpack. Strength of the snowpack will decrease with rising temps & new snow. Upper snowpack avalanches have potential to entrain wet loose snow below freezing level.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain