Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 16th, 2013 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

edwin knox, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Early season hazards remain. Use careful route selection and conservative travel technique. The very windy week has left us with a mangled snowpack!

Summary

Weather Forecast

By Thursday the westerly flow shifts to a cold northerly flow with temperatures falling to low minus teens.10cm of snow expected through Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds continued to stiffen upper snowpack creating slab like conditions. A layer of less dense snow in the proximity of the Nov 15 thin temperature crust is buried by about half a meter of denser snow. It may not trigger easily. Watch loaded gullies, cross loaded terrain and other lee areas at all aspects. Still shallow at lower elevation.

Avalanche Summary

No recent activity has been reported.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

A week of windy weather has stiffened the skiable terrain. Triggering may still be possible. Watch for these conditions in appealing looking open areas.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded features

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Associated with mid pack crusts we see a layer of sugary crystals underlying stiffer upper layers. Use more caution in thin areas as triggering may be more likely.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 19th, 2013 4:00PM