Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 27th, 2012 5:12PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Wet and Persistent Slabs.

Tim Haggarty, Parks Canada

Waterton Lakes.

Continued warm temperatures will start to slowly cool over the next few days. Rain may strongly effect stability at lower elevations. Cornices and widespread windslabs have grown at tree line and above.

Summary

Problems

Wind Slabs

Look for these slabs in open lee areas and avoid large or planar slopes where they may be continuous. Feel for these with your poles as they become buried with new snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Warming will create moist snow at lower elevations. Up to 15mm of rain are expected Wed and Thurs. Stay in low angle and supported terrain if you are skiing on moist snow. Remember small slides could be the large load needed to trigger deeper slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Warming events this month have created two crusts below 1900m on shaded aspects and to ridgelines on solar aspects down about 50 and 100cm. Slabs may still be triggered on these deeper layers with large loads especially given the expected warming.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 30th, 2012 4:00PM