Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 3rd, 2025 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

Parks Canada, Avalanche Canada

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

There is great skiing in the western areas of the park right now, however the wind is expected to increase over the day on Saturday - this will likely form sensitive wind slabs in the alpine and treeline. Once this happens, stay away from steep lee slopes and change your terrain use to lower angle and wind sheltered areas.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A few loose dry avalanches up to size 1, triggered with ski cuts on Thursday. No new natural avalanches have been observed.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of new snow has fallen in the past 6 days, with another 10 - 15 cm expected overnight on Friday. The new snow is mostly unconsolidated treeline and below, but with some wind effect in the alpine. The lower snowpack is well settled with no significant weak layers.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 - 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Sat

10 - 15 cm of snow by Sat morning, wind becoming southwest, 30 - 50 km/hr. Treeline high of -5Â°C, and low of -17Â°C.

Sun

Cloudy, wind southwest 50 km/hr, easing to 30. High of -3 at treeline.

Mon

Clearing with no significant precip expected. Wind easing to 20 km/hr from the north. Treeline high of -5Â°C.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.-

Terrain and Travel Advice

Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

Problems

Wind Slabs

With the new snow overnight on Friday there will be up to 40 cm of unconsolidated snow available for wind transport. Expect reactive wind slabs to form once the wind picks up on Saturday afternoon.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Dry

This problem will likely be reactive in steep sheltered areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2025 4:00PM