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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 19th, 2020–Jan 22nd, 2020

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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.

The warm air has arrived! This shock to the snowpack has the potential to wake up deep weak layers, especially in the front ranges. Avoid overhead hazard and thin rocky terrain.

Weather Forecast

Monday: Warm! Especially in the front ranges, with freezing levels expected to rise to 2000m (possibly higher). Moderate southwest winds and a mix of sun and cloud.

Tuesday: Freezing level to 1500m, with a good overnight freeze expected. Continued moderate southwest winds and flurries.

Wednesday: Freezing level to 1500m, continued flurries and wind.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow paired with strong west winds has formed wind slabs at all elevations. The midpack is strong and well settled in the Cameron lake area, but that rapidly changes as you move east of the divide where you will find a weaker, shallower snowpack. The base of the snowpack consists of crusts and weak facets formed early in the season.

Avalanche Summary

A field trip to Cameron Lake on Sunday found isolated evidence of previous windslab activity to size 2.5 in alpine lee features.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.