Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Dec 7 – 10, 2015Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Current forecast of a strong weather system making it's way to Waterton on Tuesday will hopefully improve ski conditions, but will certainly increase the hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Currently there are only wind slabs in pockets, but this problem will likely increase in potential size with more snow.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Storm slabs are expected to develop with Tuesdays storm.

Weather Forecast

A series of storms currently affecting the south coast are pushing their way inland to varying degrees, bringing light to moderate snow/rain (with the bulk of the precipitation starting Monday night and carrying through Tuesday), with freezing levels rising as high as 2400m by mid week. This will be accompanied by continued strong westerly winds.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of recent snow has fallen. This overlies a thin melt-freeze crust below 2100m, and old sun crust and wind slab above. Strong SW winds continue to build fresh wind slabs in sheltered lee locations and scour exposed areas back down to old crusts and bare ground. Middle and lower snowpack is well settled with no significant shears.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Regions covered