Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Dec 21 – 24, 2016Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas. Be cautious as you transition into more exposed terrain, previous stiff Winds Slabs may be difficult to detect under the more recent snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1

Weather Forecast

Ongoing Westerly flow giving continued warm temps (daytime highs above freezing at valley bottom) and strong to extreme winds through Thursday.  The arrival of a cold front on Friday will give cooling temps and the onset of a snowfall that is supposed to last through the Christmas weekend.

Snowpack Summary

In Eastern areas, strong W winds have scoured windward slopes and created hard Wind Slabs over facets. Closer to the divide, strong west winds are moving 25cm of new snow into fresh Wind Slabs. These, and older wind slabs, overlie a faceted mid snowpack. The lower snowpack while well consolidated in deeper areas, may be facetted in shallow sites.

Avalanche Summary

Poor visibility due to ongoing strong to extreme winds has limited the opportunity for observations. Nearby operations have reported several explosive and skier triggered avalanches up to size 3.0 in stiff Wind Slab failing on previously facetted surfaces and on the ground in shallow snowpack areas.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Regions covered