Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Jan 1 – 4, 2020Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Westerly winds have rapidly increased the severity of our Windslab problem.  Avoid wind loaded slopes be mindful of your overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Fresh Windslabs reactive to ski cuts at ridge top today at cameron lakes. Warming temperatures wednesday will make Windslabs easier to trigger

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    The November facet/ melt freeze crust combo still lurks near the base of the snowpack. This layer could still be triggered by people in thinner snowpack areas, or by large triggers including cornices or smaller avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Strong - Extreme Westerly winds continue to develop Windslab in lee areas. A deteriorating melt freeze crust exists on all aspects up to 1800m. Above 1800m, 85-120cm of well settled snow from previous storm sits on top of a weak facet/ melt freeze crust near the base of the snowpack. Reactivity of this basal weakness is variable & warrants caution.

Avalanche Summary

No new observations

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

Weather Forecast

Tuesday Night- Expecting 2-5 mm of precip by Wed AM With continued strong to extreme West wind.

Wednesday- A mix of sun and cloud with Strong - Moderate wind. Isolated flurries. Freezing Level 1500m

Thursday- A mix of Sun and cloud with a chance of flurries.

Regions covered