Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton, Waterton Lakes.
Bring your buff, as cool temps and increased winds will prevail on Wednesday and Thursday. Soft snow still exists in sheltered areas at treeline and below treeline.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
A few natural windslab avalanches to size 1.5 were observed in the park over the last week.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 40 cm of snow has been redistributed into windslabs by moderate to strong SW winds. Surface snow remains unconsolidated below treeline and in sheltered treeline areas. This overlies the January drought layer which includes facetted snow on northerly aspects or a melt freeze crust below treeline and on steep solar slopes into the alpine. Generally, the snowpack has become weak and facetted.
Snowpack depths at treeline range from 75 - 150 cm.
Weather Summary
Cool with a subtle increase in temperature and wind through the forecast period.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Windslabs that formed in the past week may still be human triggerable. Fresh windslabs will form on lee features on Wednesday and Thursday with W-SW winds up to 40 km/hr.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2