Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Feb 29 – Mar 3, 2016Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A smorgasbord of crusts are making for poor skiing. Welcome snowfall tonight will help. Lee aspects at Treeline will offer the best snow... look for sheltered slopes though, to avoid grabby wind slabs.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    New snow will be blown into lees on Sunday night, as temperatures drop. New Wind Slabs will probably be stubborn. However, evaluate lee slopes with care on Monday. Cornices overhead are a sign of big lee slopes, and may fail naturally at any time.

Weather Forecast

A fast moving cold front hauls freezing levels down from treeline to lake level on Sunday night, bringing 10-15cm of new snowfall with strong-extreme SW winds. Winds ease tomorrow, and remain moderate from the SW through Wednesday. Cool temperatures; except becoming mild late Tuesday, with a skiff of fresh snow arriving tuesday night.

Snowpack Summary

More spring-like every week: firm, with a variety of crusts making for poor skiing below treeline, and on solar aspects. Strong SW winds are forming wind slabs, found lee of ridges at treeline, and on open slopes. These should bond quickly to the old snow. A crust-facet combo buried 30-60cm is now strengthening, but worth keeping in mind.

Avalanche Summary

Several small Loose Wet avalanches occurred Below Treeline on Friday night, during warm temperatures and light rain. Small, fresh cornices on Forum Ridge on Sunday were reactive to human triggering, but only propagated a few meters.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Regions covered