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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2025–Jan 11th, 2025

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Seek out very sheltered areas if you are looking to find soft skiing. The wind has been hard at work in Waterton and windslabs will exist in many places.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural wind slab avalanches observed in steep cross loaded features to size 2. These avalanches were observed on Tuesday's field day however likely occurred on the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme SW winds have formed stiff windslabs at all elevations. These slabs may have built on a layer of surface hoar that was observed in many locations, uncertain if it was destroyed by wind before the new slabs formed. Windward areas are stripped to old surfaces. The lower snowpack is well settled with no significant weak layers.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 - 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Thurs

A mix of sun and cloud, wind NW, 20-40 km/hr. Treeline high of -5°C, and low of -9°C.

Fri

Mix of sun and cloud, light snow 2-5cm in the evening. Wind west 60-90 km/hr. High of -4°C at treeline.

Sat

Partially cloudy. Wind easing to 20-30 km/hr from the north. Treeline high of -5°C.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.

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.