Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Break out your hiking boots or trail runners. Recent rain events have reduced the snowpack to dirt in most areas below 1800m. Waterfall ice has also been reset on all low elevation climbs.
Weather Forecast
Over the next couple of days we will see a cooling trend with temps staying below zero at valley bottom. No significant precipitation is expected until saturday, when a weak frontal system will bring flurries to the area. Winds will continue to decrease until saturday with ridge top values around 40km/h
Snowpack Summary
10cm new snow with strong to extreme SW winds forming thin windslabs in ALP. This overlies an estimated 30-100cm snowpack in the ALP. This weeks X-winds have formed a variable snowpack, stripped to ground in many locations and deeper in isolated lees. At least one Nov melt freeze crust exists above 2000m. Snowpack is not at threshold below 2000m
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed on road patrol today. Observations in the area are very limited, if you go out into the mountains please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Expect shallow snow cover with thinly buried rocks. Gullies and deeper deposition areas will be the most likely spot to find this problem.
- Early season hazards such as rocks, trees and stumps are very prevalent
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5