Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Dec 16 – 19, 2018Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

The snowpack in Waterton is extremely variable. Hazard is elevated along the divide where there is potential to step down to deeper layers.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    30cm of storm snow since Thursday on the divide along with strong west winds has created windslabs in the alpine and treeline. These are sitting on a weak snowpack and have the potential to step down to deeper layers.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    The bottom of the snowpack is a combination of crusts and facets that is reactive to large triggers.

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Cloudy with flurries and moderate SW winds. Monday: Cloudy with flurries and moderate to strong SW winds. Up to 10cm Sunday night through Monday on the east side of the park.Tuesday: Models are in disagreement, with up to 20cm of snow in western areas of the park accompanied by moderate to strong SW winds and freezing levels rising to 1800m

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack in Waterton is highly variable, but you can count on a weaker structure along the divide where 20-30cm of recent storm snow has formed windslabs on lee (east) slopes which are sitting on a weak snowpack consisting of facets and crusts.

Avalanche Summary

Though there have been few Avalanche observations in the park, our neighbors have been experiencing the first big cycle of the season. Several skier triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported on Alpine and Treeline E-NE slopes, as well as several avalanches from explosive triggers on the October 25 crust to size 2-3.

Confidence

Wind effect is extremely variable

Regions covered