Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 13th, 2018 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

adam greenberg, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

New windslabs have formed over a weak lower snowpack. Difficult access is limiting the amount of field observations.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and strong westerly winds. Freezing levels rising as high as 1900m in the afternoon. Up to 6cms of snow and freezing levels dropping to valley bottom overnight.Saturday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Moderate west winds.Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods, Moderate west winds.

Snowpack Summary

40-60 cm of snow is on the ground in the area surrounding Cameron Lake. 10-20cm of recent storm snow has formed new windslabs in the alpine and at tree line with recent strong to extreme west winds. The October/November crust complex is present below 1950m on all aspects, and the lower snowpack is weak and facetted. Lower hazard on eastern slope

Avalanche Summary

Forecasters observed two windslabs to size 1.5 on a field trip up the Akamina Parkway, but poor visibility has limited our observations.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

Newly formed windslabs are sitting on a weak snowpack that is a mixed bag of facets and crusts

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Dec 16th, 2018 4:00PM