Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Jan 12 – 15, 2020Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Recently created windslabs will become difficult to spot as the Waterton receives a moderate amount on low density snow over the next few days. If triggered, windslabs may step down to the late December melt freeze crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Windslabs will will be difficult to spot with new snow arriving on Sunday. Buried windslab will act as a smooth bed surface for dry loose avalanches.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Watch out for fast-moving dry loose avalanches in steep terrain.

Weather Forecast

Sunday: 5-10cm overnight. Cloudy with scattered flurries during the day. Total daytime accumulation 5-10cm. Light SE Winds. Temperature dropping rapidly overnight.

Monday: Continued extreme cold with flurries totalling 5 cm. Moderate NE winds

Tuesday: Extreme cold with flurries.

Snowpack Summary

Extreme West winds yesterday have created a 10-60cm windslab sitting low in start zones on all but W aspects. New snow on top of this windslab produce small loose dry avalanches. A crust down 20-70cm exists up to 1800m. The middle snowpack is well settled in deep snowpack areas but a weak facet/ melt freeze crust still lurks at base of snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Confidence

Regions covered