Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Jan 30 – Feb 2, 2022
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Sunday: Variable snow surfaces creating challenging ski conditions. Expect a mixed bag.

Monday and Tuesday: Hazard will increase significantly throughout the day with 20 cm snow and extreme winds. Select terrain with conservative options.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Strong to extreme SW winds have created windslabs in lees that will linger through Sunday.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    20 cm of snow and extreme winds are forecasted to start sunday night accumulating through monday. This will create storm slabs atop the Jan 18 crust that could be quite reactive to human triggering.

Weather Forecast

Sun: Cloudy with flurries, accumulation 6 cm. Strong SW winds. Alpine high -5. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Mon: Cloudy with periods of snow, accumulation 16 cm. Moderate gusting to extreme W winds. Alpine high -5. FL VB.

Tues: Cloudy with flurries, accumulation 6 cm. Moderate NE winds. Alpine high -12, low -27. FL VB.

Snowpack Summary

Variable snow surfaces are found at all elevations. Jan 18 crust extends all aspects to 2000m. ALP consists of hard windslab in lees and stripped to ground in scoured areas. Well settled midpack over facets above Dec 4 crust, that is beginning to break down, buried 150-200 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov melt freeze crust complex completes the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Few size 1-2 windslab avalanches were seen in alpine and treeline this week. No new avalanches were observed on Saturday. Please post any avalanche observations on the Mountain Information Network, we really appreciate any observations.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered