Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Waterton Lakes National Park
The first real Heat Wave of Spring - use increasing caution with rising temps into next week. Scale back your exposure to large slopes, consequential terrain, and cornices.
Avalanche Problem 1: Deep Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger the deep persistent slab.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
More of a problem Tuesday on, especially if overnight temperatures remain high.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Problem 3: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, a natural avalanche cycle was observed within recent storm snow, on steep slopes, all aspects and elevations. Both Loose Dry and Storm Slab avalanches, mainly Small (size 1) but a few Large (Size 2). Many occurred on solar aspects as cold new snow rapidly became Moist in the sun. More activity expected during warm temps Monday onward.
Snowpack Summary
10-15 cm of new snowfall from Friday night became moist on solar aspects up to treeline on Saturday. Light wind transport observed from the SW at ridges. On solar aspects the new snow overlies a crust 15cm down. The midpack is strong, but near the bottom of the snowpack is a weak layer of sugary facets; in deeper areas poorly bonded above a crust.
Weather Forecast
High pressure, clear skies, warm temps, and Light SW winds dominate the forecast period - expect strong solar input every day. Cool temps overnight Saturday, Freezing Level (FL) to Treeline Sunday. Cool again overnight Sunday, then FL into the Alpine Monday, staying high (warm) overnight, then soaring to mountaintop for Tuesday & beyond.
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The first sustained warming event of the season will put the deeply buried December Facet layer to the test. The 'where' and 'when' of this problem is difficult to evaluate, but likelihood will rise with the sustained warm temps forecast.