Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Our new snow is delayed until early next week but the strong to extreme winds have arrived as scheduled. Watch out for pockets of intense wind loading.
Weather Forecast
Tonight: 10cm snow at Cameron Lake with wet snow in townsite. Freezing level 1500m. Strong to Extreme West Wind.
Sunday: Mostly Cloudy with scattered flurries. Strong West wind with gusts over 100km/h.
Monday: 15-20 cm of snow with freezing level at 1900m. Continued strong winds.
Snowpack Summary
At Cameron lake: 25cm of storm snow has been redistributed by strong SW wind. This has created thick wind slabs which sit over the Dec 9th melt freeze crust. The mid snowpack is well consolidated with a ice crust forming the base of the snowpack. Treeline snow depth at Cameron lake up to 1.5m with amounts tapering quickly at lower elevations.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches observed.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Continued Strong to Extreme westerly winds have created wind slabs which sit above a crust.
- Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
- Use caution in lee areas. New snowfall mixed with wind loading is creating Wind Slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Storm Slabs
Chances of avalanches will increase if snowfall amounts exceed forecast.
- Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2