Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Feb 14 – 17, 2014Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

A good time to be very conservative with your terrain choice. Human triggering should be expected on steep slopes and in open areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Wind and warm temperatures have created higher density snow over the weak faceted crystals in almost any open areas. Very easy triggering means that skiers should treat all significant slopes with respect. SE to SW slopes seem extra touchy

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3
    The slab of well settled snow that protects the weak snow at the base of snowpack is not very thick in many areas. As the storms continue to place stress on the snowpack, and with significant surface avalanches expected, larger events could occur.

Weather Forecast

Systems are forecast to arrive Friday midday, 10 cm with some clearing Saturday morning, Saturday night,20cm, and Sunday night, 15cm, clearing Tuesday morning. Winds may diminish a bit between systems but will remain moderate and gusty W-SW. Temperatures will also remain mild with freezing levels reaching 1600m during the day.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of snow since Monday arrived with gusty West winds and mild temperatures forming slabs above 20 cm of weak faceted crystals. Crusts exist beneath this combination on SE- Sw slopes which seem very touchy. Rapid loading is forecast to continue and threatens to wake up the weak snow that lingers at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas

Avalanche Summary

A widespread cycle to size 2 occurred Tuesday as the initial storm formed soft slabs over the facets. Remote triggering was observed at this point and should remain a concern for travelers. Natural activity diminished Wednesday, however on Thursday, a forecaster triggered a South slope above a crust: stomping a foot resulted in a sz 2.5 avalanche.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered