Cornices
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely - Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Keep these in mind during daytime warming, particularly on Tuesday.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapWaterton Lakes
Apr 11 – 14, 2016Parks Canada
Archived · expired 10 years ago
Avalanche danger
Wed
Thu
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
Highlights
A warm night on Monday will lead to the snowpack weakening quickly on Tuesday. Avalanche danger should drop steadily through the week with cooler temperatures. But, if we see 10cm+ of snow on Thursday, expect danger to rise again, with new Problems.
Avalanche problems
Loose Wet
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
These may occur naturally, and be triggered by humans, during daytime warming on Tuesday. Watch your exposure, especially during sunny breaks. They should become unlikely later in the week.
Wet Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely - Possible
- Size
- 2–3
Wet Slab avalanche timing is unpredictable. Although becoming unlikely late in the week, any Wet Slab avalanche will be large and destructive. Cracks in the slope (Glide cracks) are strong indicators of Wet Slab potential.
Weather Forecast
An approaching Pacific trough brings increasingly cool and unstable air. TUESDAY: Freezing level 2900m, dropping to 2400m. Increasing Cloud, moderate - strong SW winds. WEDNESDAY: Freezing Level 2000m, Cloudy, Strong SW winds easing. THURSDAY: Moderate upslope (Easterly) winds, easing, bring low cloud, cold temps, and light snowfall above 1600m.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is moist to wet in most areas. Strength depends on how well the surface crust recovers each night (expected poor on Tuesday). The snow will be strong while frozen, but increasingly weak with any sustained warm temperatures / during periods of strong sun. Wet Slab and glide avalanches, although Unlikely, are a concern all times of day.
Avalanche Summary
A widespread avalanche cycle (Cornice, Loose Wet, and Wet Slab avalanches, Size 1 - 2) occurred late Friday and Saturday with high freezing levels. This has slowed somewhat, but a few large natural avalanches were observed on Sunday (Loose Wet), and Monday (a Size 2.5 Cornice and Wet Slab avalanche). Many glide cracks exist - avoid these areas.