Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Jan 9 – 12, 2022
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

Though natural avalanche activity may tapper tomorrow skier triggered avalanches remain likely. Pay close attention to rising temperatures Monday as hazard will increase with temps throughout the day. Limit exposer to overhead hazard. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    No avalanches observed on this layer in our tenure however neighboring tenures are still seeing activity. With a large enough trigger or rising freezing levels this layer could produce results.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    50 cm of storm snow and moderate westerly winds have created reactive storm slabs in TL and AL. Be on the lookout for changes in slab properties as temperatures rise in the alpine at the start of the week.

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Moderate gusting to strong W wind. Alpine high -13. Freezing level valley bottom.

Monday: Cloudy. Inversion with alpine high -1 and valley bottom remaining below freezing. Moderate W winds.

Tuesday: Cloudy. Inversion with alpine high -1 and valley bottom below freezing. Moderate W winds.

Snowpack Summary

50 cm of storm snow sits atop a 10 - 30 cm hard wind slab. Mid pack is well settled. Facets are found above Dec 4 crust down 80-120 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov crust complex completes the snowpack to ground. No results have been seen on the Dec 4 layer in our pits this week.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche cycle with numerous storm slabs up to 2.5 observed on road patrol today. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work, we really do read them.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Regions covered