Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Though natural avalanche activity may tapper tomorrow skier triggered avalanches remain likely. Pay close attention to rising temperatures Monday as hazard will increase with temps throughout the day. Limit exposer to overhead hazard.
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Moderate gusting to strong W wind. Alpine high -13. Freezing level valley bottom.
Monday: Cloudy. Inversion with alpine high -1 and valley bottom remaining below freezing. Moderate W winds.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Inversion with alpine high -1 and valley bottom below freezing. Moderate W winds.
Snowpack Summary
50 cm of storm snow sits atop a 10 - 30 cm hard wind slab. Mid pack is well settled. Facets are found above Dec 4 crust down 80-120 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov crust complex completes the snowpack to ground. No results have been seen on the Dec 4 layer in our pits this week.
Avalanche Summary
Natural avalanche cycle with numerous storm slabs up to 2.5 observed on road patrol today. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work, we really do read them.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
50 cm of storm snow and moderate westerly winds have created reactive storm slabs in TL and AL. Be on the lookout for changes in slab properties as temperatures rise in the alpine at the start of the week.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices; which could trigger large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
No avalanches observed on this layer in our tenure however neighboring tenures are still seeing activity. With a large enough trigger or rising freezing levels this layer could produce results.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5