Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Feb 19 – 22, 2013Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

New windslabs and surface sluffing are the main avalanche concerns right now. Hopefully the light winds forecast for the period will delay further slab growth. Good skiing remains in shaded areas following intense radiation today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    New slabs forming in exposed areas with SW winds. These are spotty and small right now but will grow in size and thickness with time. Monitor the texture of the snow as you move into open areas and avoid steep terrain where these slabs are present.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Sluffing occurs easily given terrain over 40 degrees. This will diminish as the storm snow settles and is likely to occur only on  shaded slopes following the solar heating on Feb 18. Manage your sluff and your group carefully.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday- Light S-SW winds. Sunny periods in the AM with freeze level to 1700. Cloudy with Flurries afternoon.Wednesday- Light W winds. Mainly cloudy with flurries. Freeze level 1300m.Thursday-  Light to Moderate W winds. Cooler temperatures with some clearing.

Snowpack Summary

20cm on Feb 16 interface comprised of suncrust steep solar aspects, rain crust to 1900m and windslab in open areas. New windslabs forming in exposed terrain TL and above with SW winds. New suncrusts forming today with strong solar input steep East and South slopes. Profiles today BTL showed weakening of the mid and lower snowpack with faceting.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread Loose Dry avalanches have been seen failing within the storm snow in mainly extreme terrain. Although most of these events could be called surface sluffs one notable event today ran a considerable distance and reached class 2 in size.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered