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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2026–Feb 28th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Strong to extreme southwesterly winds have redistributed snow into wind slabs at all elevations bands. Use caution in open leeward terrain features.

Warmer temperatures and high solar input are expected on Sunday. Keep an eye out for signs of warming on steep solar slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

Earlier this week, several cornice triggered wind slab avalanches up to 2.5 were observed. One of these was suspected to have stepped down into persistent weak layers. Unfortunately, this could not be confirmed due to the location of the avalanche.

Snowpack Summary

Upper snowpack: Moderate to extreme winds are redistributing 35 cm of recent snowfall. Wind slabs continue to build on lee slopes, while windward slopes are being scoured. On solar aspects, the recent snow sits over a crust at and below treeline.

Mid snowpack: 30-50 cm of settled snow sit over a series of melt freeze crusts and faceted layers on polar aspects.

Lower snowpack: is well settled.

Weather Summary

Sat

Up to 10 cm of snow expected by morning. A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine low of -6 °C, high of -3 °C. Wind gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at 1700 m

Sun

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine low of -7 °C, high of 0 °C. Wind gusting to 35 km/h. Freezing level at 2100 m

Mon

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine low of -7 °C, high of 0 °C. Wind gusting to 35 km/h. Freezing level at 2100 m

Current weather forecast: Mountain Weather Forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.
  • Strong wind is building wind slabs farther downslope than usual.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.