Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2024 4:00PM

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

KT, Avalanche Canada

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

15-30 cm of new snow with strong SW winds have added new load on the persistent weak layer. Expect a natural cycle on the Feb 3rd crust/facet combo. Make conservative terrain choices until the avalanche cycle has run its course and the snow has settled.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche observations have been limited due to poor visibility in the Park, but a few large avalanches in surrounding areas have been observed failing on a persistent weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm in the past 24 hrs has been redistributed into fresh windslabs on lee aspects. This sits on older windslab 20-40 thick or a sun crust on steep solar aspects at all elevations. The Feb 3rd crust is down 40-70cm and has a thin layer of weak facets above it. The lower snowpack is a well-settled crust/facet complex to the ground. Average snowpack depths are between 100 - 175 cm.

Weather Summary

Tues

Cloudy, light snow up to 5cm. Light to strong SW winds with an alpine high of -18°C

Wed

Cloudy, light snow with minimal accumulation. Strong to extreme SW winds with an alpine high of -7°C

Thurs

Cloudy, with 5 - 10 cm of snow possible. Moderate to strong SW winds with an alpine high of -6°C

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Several crusts are now being buried in our snowpack. The most concerning is the Feb 03 crust which has a sensitive layer of facets above it in many places. We suspect this layer will become more sensitive with the additional load.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Wind Slabs

Windslabs 20-40 cm thick formed with strong SW wind Sat-Mon. Winds will be strong to extreme SW on Wed and will continue to build slabs on the same aspects. These slabs will have the potential to step down to deeper persistent layers.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 29th, 2024 4:00PM