Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 30th, 2012 5:29PM

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

Tim Haggarty, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Warm temperatures and rain have created poor conditions and unstable snow below 1900m. Cooler Sunday? Up high windslabs and fragile cornices are developing. There are many sources that could create the large load necessary to trigger a big wet slide.

Summary

Problems

Wind Slabs

New soft slabs are forming in open lee areas. Avoid large or planar slopes where these slabs may be more continuous. Feel for harder slabs now hidden by recent storm snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Continued warm temps have created moist and rain soaked snow below 1900m. Crappy skiing! Stay in low angle and supported terrain as you travel through this weak wet snow. Remember small slides could be the large load needed to trigger deeper slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Warming events this month have created crusts below 1900m on shaded aspects and to ridgelines on solar aspects. Slabs may still be triggered on these deeper layers with large loads as water percolates through the snowpack and weakens upper crusts.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Apr 2nd, 2012 4:00PM