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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 19th, 2024–Feb 22nd, 2024

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Good riding to be had on sheltered slopes. Exposed areas are wind affected and wind slabs may be triggerable.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wind slab avalanches to size 2 were observed in the alpine on Sunday. A nearby ski hill triggered a size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a facet crust layer on Saturday with explosives.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate westerly winds have built windslabs in the alpine and at treeline in exposed areas. 30-40 cm of unconsolidated snow exists in sheltered slopes. This overlies older windslabs and faceted snow above the Feb 3rd crust. Below this, the snowpack is settled with a crust/facet complex near the ground. Average snowpack depths are between 100 - 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Tues

A mix of sun and cloud with flurries. 2 cm of snow. Wind SW 50 kph. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Wed

A mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries. Minimal accumulation. Wind W 30-40 kph. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Thurs

Mainly cloudy, no significant precip expected. Freezing level valley bottom. Alpine high -7°C. Winds moderate W.

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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.