Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Jan 25 – 28, 2022
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New snow will offer a slight refresh to the skiing. Be aware the most recent crust is just below and may prove challenging skiing and a slippery bed surface.

The Best turns will likely be had on mellow slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Be cautious around deeper areas of wind transported snow. N winds may have loaded features in irregular ways.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2.5–4

    No avalanches observed on this layer in two weeks. Would need a very large load to trigger.

Weather Forecast

Tues: Cloudy with no forecast precip. Winds switching from N back to S-SW and increasing to moderate through the day. Alpine high -6, FL valley bottom.

Wed: Cloudy with an alpine high of -4. Strong winds tapering in the afternoon. FL valley bottom

Thurs: Clearing with an alpine high of -5. Moderate winds and valley bottom FL. No forecast precip.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of storm snow is being redistributed by L-M winds into new windslabs ALP/TL. Jan 18 crust extends all aspects up 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 down 150-200 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov melt freeze crust complex completes the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new naturals observed during today's small storm. Two small natural windslabs observed in treeline terrain on Saturday.

Confidence

Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Regions covered