Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Mar 25 – 28, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Snowpack structure varies greatly with aspect, elevation, and time of day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Be mindful of the change in wind direction on tuesday night.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Primarily a Tuesday concern.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3
    There remains a concern for deep weak layers in thin snowpack areas. Warm temperatures and solar radiation have the potential to wake them up.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mostly Sunny.  Freezing Level 1900m. West wind 30km/h gusting 70.Wednesday:  Cloud. Freezing Level 1700m. NE Wind 25-45 km/h.Thursday:  Cloudy with sunny peroids. Freezing Level 1600m. East Wind 15-40km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack structure varies greatly with aspect, elevation and time of day. We received 2-5 mm of precipitation over the weekend with a 1600m freezing level.  New snow sits over a 4cm melt freeze crust on solar aspects above 1700m. Pockets of dry snow over windslab still exist on north aspects above TL. Midpack is strong above 1700m & Isothermic BTL.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity last 48h. A widespread, loose wet avalanche cycle during last weeks tropical heat has filled many avalanche paths with debris.

Confidence

Regions covered