Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Weather Forecast
Moist, mild Pacific air collides with a cold Arctic High. Forecasts predict anywhere from 40-140cm of snowfall by Monday evening. Alpine winds are mainly moderate SW (Strong on Sunday AM). Below Treeline, a cold Upslope flow with light NE windsprevails (except for Moderate SW winds Sunday AM), causing a temperature inversion. Monday looks frigid.
Snowpack Summary
Substantial new snowfall from Friday to Monday falls on wind-hardened snow, or pockets of very hard wind slab in open areas, 5-15cm thick. In some places this overlies a thin weak layer, seeming especially pronounced at the transition from sheltered to open terrain. The lower snowpack facets have produced isolated Sudden results in snowpack tests.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported or observed at this time (5PM Friday). At Treeline on Thursday, shooting cracking from ski tips were observed in very hard Wind Slab, 15cm deep.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Loose Dry
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2