Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Expect to find windslab in new places as winds continue to switch between NW and SW.
By the end of the forecast period a return to X SW winds and warm temps.
Weather Forecast
Friday: Clear skies and an alpine high -10. Winds L from the NW
Saturday: Temps rising to -5 with clear skies in the morning and cloud in the afternoon. Winds increasing through the day S-X SW by evening.
Sunday: Cloudy skies with temps rising to zero in the alpine. S-X SW winds at ridgetop. FL near 1700m
Snowpack Summary
Variable winds M-S forming new windslabs 10-30cm deep. This overlies pressed surfaces and old hard windslab 10-30 cm deep, or Feb crust. Feb 15 crust is 1 cm thick and exists to tree line all aspects and higher on solar aspects. Well settled midpack. Facets above Dec 4 crust, beginning to break down, buried 150-200 cm.
Avalanche Summary
A natural cycle to size 2 was observed along the Akamina Parkway yesterday. The cycle included both windslabs and dry loose avalanches. Thanks for the great observations on the Mountain Information Network, we love seeing your adventures.
Confidence
Wind speed and direction is uncertain
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds of variable direction have formed slabs in both standard and reverse loaded lees.
- Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Dry
This problem still exists in steep sheltered locations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5