Avalanche Forecast

Avalanche Bulletin - Waterton Lakes National Park

Date issued

Dec 14, 2017 - 4:00 PM

Valid until

until further notice

Prepared by

Timothy Johnson

Winter has been postponed for Waterton.

Please see the up-to-date list of open and closed areas.

Danger Ratings
Problems
Details

Early Season Conditions

Insufficient observations exist to reliably rate the avalanche danger. Expect shallow snow cover with thinly buried rocks and trees just beneath the surface. Avalanche danger often concentrates in gullies and other deposition areas, where windslabs may bond poorly to a weak underlying base. Deeper snow usually exists at higher elevations.

More Early Season Details

Avalanche Summary

A few small wet avalanches from sunny, steep, and rocky alpine terrain observed earlier this week.

Snowpack Summary

In the eastern area of the park that is currently open to the public, the only patches of snow are in shaded, wind loaded gullies and depositions at tree-line and the alpine. The valley bottom is largely free of snow.

Weather Forecast

Strong west winds gusting to extreme (90km/h) are forecasted overnight Thursday and into the morning on Friday. Winds will diminish slightly Friday afternoon bringing snow flurries and a cooling trend for the weekend.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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