Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Storm totals in the park will grow to 20-30cms with incoming snow on Saturday. Be cautious as you enter wind affected terrain, and enjoy the good skiing in sheltered areas.
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Flurries with 5-10cm of snow. Temperatures dropping the day, with an overnight low of -30, and a slight inversion at cameron lake. Light west wind switching east overnight with moderate gusts at ridgetop.
Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Really, really cold temperatures. Wind light from the east.
Monday: Cold and clear with calm winds.
Snowpack Summary
Southwest through northeast wind has redistributed 10-15cm recent storm snow creating wind slab on lee and cross loaded slopes. Fresh wind slab sits on a firm crust below 1900m. The mid snowpack is well consolidated at Cameron Lake but the snowpack becomes shallow and faceted in areas east of the divide.
Avalanche Summary
Small loose dry avalanches were reported in steep terrain on friday
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
10cm of snow on Saturday will bring our storm totals to 20-30cm. In wind affected areas this will be blown into wind slabs on all aspects with a change in wind directions from west to east on Saturday night.
- Be careful around wind loaded areas near ridge crests, cross loaded gullies and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Dry
The problem is specific to steep terrain and will be amplified by cold temperatures as snow starts to facet on the weekend.
- Sluffs will be easy to trigger in steep terrain that is sheltered from the wind
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5