Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 10th, 2013 6:52PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.

tim haggarty, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

The recent storm brought 40 to 50 cm of low density snow with very little wind. Forecasters are working to gather more information concerning the Jan 5 layer and until more is known conservative terrain choices are advised. Great skiing!

Summary

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will dominate for the period with a generally cool, sunny, dry, North Westerly pattern with light winds. A few cm of new snow are expected Friday. Dry conditions Saturday and Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

50 cm low density storm snow above 1500m with little wind effect or slab formation. The Jan 5 interface is now down 70-90cm with a 30-40 cm soft slab immediately above it. This interface produced Moderate to Hard test results on Surface Hoar in sheltered N and E locations. Suncrust exists at this interface on steep S aspects. 290 cm at treeline

Avalanche Summary

Limited Visibility continues. Skiers will experience sluffing in steep terrain. Skier triggering is possible on the Jan 5 interface. Forecasters have been making conservative terrain choices while gathering more information about this layer.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Jan 5 Surface Hoar/ Suncrust layer is now buried 60 to 90 cm. Extra caution on sheltered North and East aspects. Dig down to identify this layer and avoid steep or unsupported slopes where it is present. Triggering this layer would be serious.

Avoid unsupported slopes.Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Surface sluffing on slopes over 35 degrees. Manage this carefully within the group by not skiing above other skiers and avoiding terrain traps and gullies or confined terrain. This should decrease with settling over the next few days.

Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1

Valid until: Jan 13th, 2013 4:00PM