Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Waterton Lakes National Park
It feels like spring in the valley bottoms but it is still winter up high and avalanche hazard still exists.
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Warm temps and strong winds are rapidly building windslabs from new snow in NE features.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem 3: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Treat cornices with extreme caution. They are growing with the new snow and winds and becoming fragile with the warming temperatures.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating.
Avalanche Summary
Wet avalanches have been observed in Waterton running up to 250m from steep aspects from the alpine on all aspects. Cornices have also be failing in the areas around Waterton running far.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures and sunny skies will be triggering wet avalanches in the new snow at all elevations. The snowpack at higher elevation, including cornices, are still large and demand respect. Watch out for new windslabs.
Weather Forecast
Warm temperatures and no overnight freeze forecast for this weekend with daytime highs of 10C in the townsite. This will be accompanied with strong to extreme WSW winds and freezing levels to 2000m. More precipitation looks like its on its way Sunday night into early next week.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Avalanche Bulletin - Waterton Lakes National Park URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/waterton.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Expect loose wet avalanches to start running from steep slopes when temps warm up. Watch out for terrain traps where these small avalanches could have severe consequences.