Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 13th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs, Loose Dry and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Marcus Waring, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Storm Slabs are reactive and will increase the load on Deep Persistent Slabs.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Tonight: clear skies. -25. Light SW wind Thursday: Sun with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Isolated flurries.Â Light SW wind,. Alpine high -7.Friday: Flurries. 5cm snow. Light SW gusting moderate.Â

Snowpack Summary

30-45cm of new storm snow in the past 24h. This new snow sits over a variety of wind affected surfaces including pockets of Windslab near ridgetop. We expect the storm snow to be reactive to human traffic through the weekend. The Midpack is strong in deep snowpack areas but this increase in loading will stress the weak, facetted basal snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Siz 1-1.5 Natural Avalanche activity reported from Castle Mt Ski Resort. Limited observations in Waterton.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm snow is reactive to human traffic. More specific will information available in tomorrow's forecast

If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

Use caution in steep, sheltered terrain

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

A layer of weak facets is lurking at the bottom of the snowpack. This new snow may be enough to affect this basal weakness in shallow snowpack areas.

Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 16th, 2019 4:00PM