Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Wind slabs formed on Thursday may still be reactive on shaded aspects at higher elevations.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapWaterton Lakes
Mar 18 – 21, 2019Parks Canada
Archived · expired 8 years ago
Avalanche danger
Wed
Thu
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
Highlights
http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/links/goto_e.asp?destination=A very short lived spring seems to be rapidly transitioning to summer, with little time for the snowpack to adjust. This is a good time to avoid all avalanche terrain.
Avalanche problems
Loose Wet
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Very Likely - Certain
- Size
- 1–2
Loose avalanches are either running on hard bed surfaces, or entraining the faceted lower snowpack and running larger than normal.
Deep Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1.5–3
There remains a concern for deep weak layers in thin snowpack areas. Rapidly warming temperatures and solar radiation have the potential to wake them up.
Weather Forecast
Get your hawaiian shirt out and lather on that sunscreen! Expect light winds and increasing temperatures through the forecast period with no overnight freeze. Alpine Highs will be in the 8 degree range, while in town it will reach 17! The clear skies and strong March sun will work to further increase the temperatures on solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
The upper snowpack consists of recent wind slabs over facetted wind affected surfaces on shaded slopes, and moist snow on solar aspects. The lower snowpack remains weak and facetted, and as the warm temperatures continue there is a possibility this layer could produce large avalanches
Avalanche Summary
A number of Size 2 loose avalanches were observed on Mt. Bertha and along the Akamina Parkway over the weekend. They entrained a substantial part of the facetted snowpack in some areas, making them larger than one might expect. In the Castle Mountain region, there were reports of Size 3 avalanches in the past week on layers deep in the snowpack.