Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

adam greenberg, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Skiing is fantastic with calm winds and silky snow. Expect this to change on Thursday as winds increase.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Calm winds and increasing cloudiness through the day. Alpine high -8Wednesday: Cloudy with isolated flurries as the winds switch to SW increasing in the eveningThursday: Flurries ending in the morning with ridgetop winds increasing to 50km/h from the SW. Rising temperatures with an alpine high of -4

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of powder is covering variety of wind affected surfaces at all elevations including old windslabs on all aspects in the Alpine and at Treeline. This loose snow will form new windslabs with increasing wind beginning Tuesday night. The midpack is generally strong in thick snowpack locations, and is bridging weak basal facets.

Avalanche Summary

A field trip to the Cameron Lake area on Monday saw isolated small loose dry avalanches out of steep rocky terrain

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Old windslabs are lingering in the alpine, and new windslabs will be forming as winds increase from the SW on Thursday

Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading will create slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The basal weaknesses are well bridged in deeper snowpack areas, but there remains the possibility to be surprised in thin snowpack areas.

Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.Avoid thin, rocky or unsupported slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2019 4:00PM