Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 1st, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Wet.

adam greenberg, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Spring conditions persist, watch for changing conditions with the potential for increased hazard with daytime warming and solar input.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Typical spring weather is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday with freezing levels rising to 2000m in the afternoon and dropping below valley bottom at night. Convective activity may bring isolated flurries. On Thursday we could see up to 15cm of precipitationÂ (rain at lower elevations) with increased winds and the freezing level rising to 2400m

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of moist recent snow along the front ranges is sitting on a thick supportive crust in most locations. In most areas we are seeing a typical spring snowpack with crusts breaking down in the heat of the day. Steep north facing alpine terrain is still holding dry snow. The midpack is generally moist and well settled.

Avalanche Summary

Several small loose dry avalanches were observed on Monday with new snow sliding on a thick melt freeze crust.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Loose Wet

New snow on Thursday falling on a hard melt freeze crust could become reactive with daytime warming

Recent snow may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar aspects where it sits on sun crustAvoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Apr 4th, 2019 4:00PM