Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 9th, 2017 4:00PM

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

jonas hoke, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Fast travel and a well settled snowpack make this a good time to go exploring.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Monday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Flurries (up to 5cm). Ridge wind mod SW. Alpine Low -7, High -3. Freezing level 1800m.Tuesday: Mixed sun and cloud. Ridge wind light (gusting strong) SW. Alpine Low -8, High -3. Freezing level 1700m.Wednesday: Cloudy. Flurries (up to 6cm), Ridge wind light E. Alpine Low -3, High -0. Freezing level 2100m.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25mm of precipitation fell over the past weekend (snow above 2200m, rain below). This has formed isolated pockets of stubborn storm slabs in the alpine. The snowpack is shrinking fast at road level, but there is a 2-2.5m snowpack at ridgetop near the divide. Basal facets persist in some locations but have been unreactive since mid-March.

Avalanche Summary

Nearby operations reported a natural cycle of small loose wet avalanches over the weekend.

Confidence

Due to the quality of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

Watch for isolated pockets of slab in alpine lee and crossloaded areas.

Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.Use safe ski cutting techniques before entering ski run.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

New snow over old crusty surfaces may produce small natural avalanches with daytime warming.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1

Valid until: Apr 12th, 2017 4:00PM