Avalanche Forecast

Archived

May 1st, 2023–May 4th, 2023

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Waterton has transitioned to spring conditions. Spring snowstorms are still possible however wet loose avalanches are the primary concern.

Plan to be finished early before the hottest part of the day. Some eastern parts of the park are nearly free of snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A natural loose wet cycle to size 2 was observed over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Very warm daytime temps and limited overnight refreezes will keep the snowpack isothermal on all aspects at all elevations. The January melt-freeze crust is buried up to 100cm. Alpine and Treeline midpack is well settled and overlies basal facets and depth hoar. Most places the snowpack is now moist to ground.

Weather Summary

Tues-Thurs

Temps are forecast to continue to be unseasonably hot over the next three days. Alpine highs in the +20's are possible. Winds will be light to moderate from the SW and skies will be mostly clear.

For more weather information check the mountain weather forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, or solar radiation is strong.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.