Wind Slabs
- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Likely
- Taille
- 1.5–3
In many places wind slab are failing on or stepping down to the January PWL.
Numerous large avalanches have been observed in Waterton in the last 24h. Expect to see more activity with this weekends warm temperatures. Now is the time to choose very conservative terrain or head to the ski hill.
In many places wind slab are failing on or stepping down to the January PWL.
New wind loading in the alpine and at treeline is causing the January 31st drought layer to fail in many places. As natural activity tapers this layer will still be in the human triggerable range.
Warm temps are forecast for Saturday and Sunday. With good overnight re-freezes this problem will be isolated to peak warming. Pay special attention to steep solar slopes.
Another widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on Thursday during a wind event. Persistent slab avalanches were observed to size 3.
See the photo for a size 3 avalanche captured in motion on the NW slopes of Blackiston.
Up to 30cm of storm snow from this weekend has been redistributed by SW winds up to 80km/h. These winds have formed windslabs up to 100cm deep at treeline and in the alpine. This overlies the Jan 31 drought layer is down 60-100 cm. Snowpack is generally thin and facetted at all elevations. HS on treeline lees avg 130- 200 cm. Below 1800m snow was moist and has now began to re-freeze.
Snow arrives on Monday but first a warm weekend.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.