Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 7th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet and Cornices.

Lynnea Baker,

Waterton Lakes.

Freezing levels remain high Thursday night into Friday. Keep big objectives for cooler day ahead.

A cold front coming in Friday afternoon will improve avalanche hazard for the weekend. Expect to travel through a variety of snow surfaces.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Cloudy with clear periods. Moderate SW winds. Freezing levels 3000m.

Fri: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated wet flurries. Alpine high +5. Mod gusting extreme SW winds. FL 3400m.

Sat: Cloudy with flurries, 7 cm. Alpine high -5. Light to mod gusting strong W winds. FL 1400m.

Sun: Flurries, 8 cm. Alpine high of -5. Light W winds. FL 3000m.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 19 cm of storm snow is settling and becoming moist with high freezing levels Thursday. SW winds formed 15-30 cm windslabs in alpine lees. New snow buried refrozen surfaces on all aspects well into ALP. A series of crusts and windslab make up the midpack. Lower snowpack is well settled 1F to P. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity increasing each afternoon with day time heating. Numerous size 1 wet loose avalanches reported in last two days. Please report any observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Loose Wet

With overnight freezing levels remaining high through thursday night we don't expect the snow pack to get a good refreeze overnight. This problem will improve through the weekend as temps cool off.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Daytime warming/rain will weaken surface layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

Thursdays and Fridays warm temps well into the alpine is weakening cornices making them more likely to fail.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs.
Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Apr 10th, 2022 4:00PM