Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Feb 14 – 15, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Hazard bumping up for Tuesday due to 20cm with Mod-Str NE winds forecasted. Wind slabs may exist on open slopes at all elevations and aspects. Exercise caution when transitioning to these wind effected slopes. Good skiing exists in sheltered and treed slopes BTL.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Monday night's 10-20cm with Mod-Str NE winds may have created fresh reactive wind slabs on previously wind-scoured surfaces, which is old wind slab or Jan crust. Wind slabs from last week's storm and Extreme W winds may linger and may still be reactive to human triggering. We saw sudden collapse results on the crust interface last week and natural and explosive avalanche reports on this layer from Castle Ski Patrol.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

2 Sz 2.5 avalanches Natural and with explosives have been observed in the Castle Mt Resort area in the past week on facets over the mid-Jan Crust. Several size 1.5 wind-slabs were observed Thursday on loaded North through East aspects in the alpine. Observations over the weekend were limited.

Please share your observations and photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of fresh snow with MOD W-NE winds Monday day/night sits on top of older wind slabs at treeline and above or on steeper exposed slopes below treeline. Extreme W winds last week may have scoured windward slopes down to the Jan crust. These slopes may now have fresh wind slabs from reverse loading of recent snow and NE winds. The total snow depth above the crust at treeline is approx. 50-70 cm. The crust is widespread and exists up to 2400 m. We are starting to see weak crystals develop above the crust and have observed avalanches Sz 1-2.5 on this layer of concern in the surrounding area.

Weather Summary

Expecting 10-20cm over Mon night/Tues morning with Mod-Str N-NE winds as the storm passes in the A.M. Expect skies to clear and winds to ease through Tuesday.

Alpine temperature: High -11 °C

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

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