Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 25th, 2016 4:00PM

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

jonas hoke, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

New snow has resurrected our spring snowpack. Enjoy the long weekend! JH

Summary

Weather Forecast

Saturday a ridge of high pressure passes over our area giving clear skies, light winds from the west and freezing levels as high as 1800m.Sunday a "cold" low moves inland.Â Giving increasing cloudiness, moderate to strong SW wind, light precipitation and lowering freezing levels through Monday.Â Total snowfall accumulations will be 3-5cm.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of settling new snow overlies a supportive melt-freeze crust which extends into the alpine on all aspects. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well consolidated with no notable shears and no recent activity to indicate a persistent weakness.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity has been observed, suspect that some small loose snow and storm slab avalanches have occurred as a result of the storm.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

With winds tapering toward the end of Friday's storm windloaded pockets may be difficult to detect.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Windslabs will likely begin to develop with Sundays wind.

Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1

Valid until: Mar 28th, 2016 4:00PM