Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 4th, 2016 4:00PM

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

jonas hoke, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Rugged travel persists at lower elevations, watch for early season hazards hidden just below the recent new snow. Field observations have been limited to date, evaluate the snowpack carefully before committing to big terrain. JH

Summary

Weather Forecast

An arctic ridge will remain in place over the region until at least the middle of the week. Expect clearing skies and cooling temperatures (with overnight lows of -25 deg by Wednesday).

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of new snow is covering a well settled early season snowpack (watch for buried windslab near ridges). The snowpack above 2000m is over 100cm deep near in the divide, but much shallower at lower elevations and in Eastern areas. A mid November crust down 40-90cm was well bonded in areas observed to date but warrants evaluation.

Avalanche Summary

No recent activity observed.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1

Loose Dry

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1

Wind Slabs

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 7th, 2016 4:00PM