Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2012 6:35PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Wet and Storm Slabs.

Tim Haggarty, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

A few large events have been observed: high elevation windslabs that have entrained huge amounts of moist - rain affected snow at lower elevations. Consider your exposure to terrain where these two problems could combine. Best skiing is above 1800m.

Summary

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds have formed slabs during the storms this last week that are now becoming buried with new snow. Feel for these with your poles and keep the terrain supported and angle modest if you suspect they are around.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Below 1800m rain soaked snow can be found above a crust 40- 60 cm deep. Choose low angle terrain in these elevations until some sustained cold temps freeze this into more stable snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Storm Slabs

Up to 130 cm of snow from this week now covers the crust and hard slab interface. Warm temps have influenced several of the layers within this snow and a few shears exist at various elevations. Dig down to this interface to evaluate these shears.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 19th, 2012 4:00PM