Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Feb 14 – 17, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Storm Slabs are reactive and will increase the load on Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Use caution in steep, sheltered terrain

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Storm snow is reactive to human traffic. More specific will information available in tomorrow's forecast

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    A layer of weak facets is lurking at the bottom of the snowpack.  This new snow may be enough to affect this basal weakness in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: clear skies. -25. Light SW wind Thursday: Sun with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Isolated flurries.  Light SW wind,. Alpine high -7.Friday: Flurries. 5cm snow. Light SW gusting moderate. 

Snowpack Summary

30-45cm of new storm snow in the past 24h. This new snow sits over a variety of wind affected surfaces including pockets of Windslab near ridgetop. We expect the storm snow to be reactive to human traffic through the weekend. The Midpack is strong in deep snowpack areas but this increase in loading will stress the weak, facetted basal snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Siz 1-1.5 Natural Avalanche activity reported from Castle Mt Ski Resort. Limited observations in Waterton.

Confidence

Regions covered