Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Mar 17 – 18, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Hazard for peak solar warming!!!

Avoid steep solar slopes in the afternoon as temps are forecast to rise through the weekend. Expect the most warming to take place in the east side of the park.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wet loose to size 2 observed from the road this week

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of moist snow on solars, all elevations with a strong o/n refreeze. This new crust caps a 25cm windslab over an old melt freeze crust on solars and hard windslab on polars. The January melt freeze crust is buried 50-100cm. Alpine and Treeline midpack is well settled and overlies basal facets and depth hoar. Below treeline, the Jan Crust overlies facets and depth hoar to ground.

Weather Summary

Friday

Clear skies with alpine temps near zero. No precip and light winds

Saturday

Clear skies with alpine temps climbing to +1. No precip and light to mod winds

Sunday

Clear skies alpine temps +3. No precip and light winds

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

Regions covered