Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Weather Forecast
Freezing level rose to 2800m Monday. With a poor overnight recovery forecast, and more solar heating into Tuesday, the snowpack will be weakened further. Overnight rain with snow above 1800m and strong winds will add heat at low elevations and windloading above for Wed when more sun is expected. A better recovery is seen Wed Pm with more sun Thurs.
Snowpack Summary
Surface crusts on East through West aspects have formed with the daily heating pattern and rain below 1700m. Down 30 to 40cm on shaded aspects a shear persists on the 0325 interface. The strong March crusts are found down 70 to 100cm on all but North aspects above treeline and overlie the Feb facets that remain weak at about 1m above the ground.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread superficial loose moist activity has been seen over the last few days as a result of heating. On Sunday heating was strong enough that one of these triggered a 40 cm deep slab on an E aspect. Expect this activity to increase Tuesday. On shaded aspects and at higher elevations a few windslabs have been seen following modest new snow input
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3