Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Weather Forecast
Saturday: An Upslope flow brings light snowfall and light - moderate Easterly winds. Temperatures fall, from -10 to -15.Sunday: A building ridge causes flurries to taper off, with some afternoon sun possible. -15, light winds.Monday: Return of the Westerlies! Expect: racing clouds, Strong Westerly winds, blowing snow, and rising temperatures.
Snowpack Summary
New snowfall is burying several layers of Hard Wind Slab at all elevations, formed by previous Extreme Westerly winds. In deeper snowpack areas, the Wind Slabs are sitting on a midpack of small facets, which have produced shears in tests. In thin snowpack areas, they are sitting on weak, large, developing Depth Hoar, producing Sudden shears.
Avalanche Summary
Explosives control work at neighboring avalanche operations have been producing Large avalanches daily in Wind exposed terrain, especially in areas that were shallow prior to recent wind loading from the West.Shooting cracks and Whoomphing were observed in pockets of Hard Wind Slab over Depth Hoar in Eastern (shallow snowpack) areas on Friday.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2