Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 24th, 2014 4:00PM

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

edwin knox, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

With a stretch of bright sunny days this week don't get taken by surprise! Dangerous avalanche conditions are persisting. As well, sun warming effects may increase the avalanche danger rating during the mid part of the day.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The next few days we may see more sun than we have for some time . Just a chance of flurries late Thursday. Temperatures warming to as high as -3C in the alpine on Wednesday. Solar warming has the potential to raise the danger rating during the hours of peak sunshine.

Snowpack Summary

The 60cm of snow over the Continental Divide that fell in the past week is slowly settling. Avalanche activity has tapered off since the weekend but with cold temperatures facet concerns buried now under 80 to 100cm of persistent slab and loose dry snow triggering is possible. No stability tests to report

Avalanche Summary

avalanche activity has tapered off with the clearing and cooling trend

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Persistent Slabs

These slabs have become a little less touchy but are now buried by an additional load (60cm over the past week). Limit your exposure to significant slopes. Do not get taken by surprise. Long propagations are still likely.

Use conservative route selection, stick to moderate angled terrain with low consequence.Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

60cm of new snow over the past week with transport tapering off the past 5 days. Loose dry concerns could step down to the weak faceted layer.

The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.Sluffs may trigger deeper instabilities.