Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Dec 16 – 19, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The snowpack is gaining strength as it begins to refreeze following a major warm up. Caution and active investigation of the snowpack is still warranted in the Alpine. Below treeline the heating has reduced coverage from poor to really poor.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    After a completely calm two days since the new snow fell, the wind is just now beginning to stir. Expect to find freshly formed windslabs in the days to come.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–3
    Following significant heating, these slabs are gaining strength as they refreeze. The facets and associated crust found near the base of the snowpack likely only remain a problem at elevations above at least 2400m but we have not traveled this high.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    The new snow moves naturally and with skier traffic above the surface crust. Use caution in confined terrain such as gullies or in high consequence terrain such as above cliffs.

Weather Forecast

It looks like good weather for the period: mild temperatures: -10 to -3 at Little Prairie with thin cloud cover. The West wind will likely cause the biggest change to the snowpack and is very likely to redistribute the 10 to 20 cm available above the Dec 13 crust

Snowpack Summary

With heating and rain last week, the entire snowpack to at least 2200m went to zero degrees or became "isothermal" . As temperatures dropped over the weekend a surface crust formed that was thankfully buried by 10 to 20 cm of new snow. Beneath the crust the snowpack is now beginning to refreeze giving it considerable strength Treeline and below.

Avalanche Summary

Only minor loose dry activity with the new snow running over the surface crust has been seen.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered