Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton, Waterton Lakes.
The wind continues to blow down here in Waterton and forming windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. Decent skiing continues to exist on sheltered, low-angle slopes where a new temperature/solar crust does not exist.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed
Snowpack Summary
5-10 cm of snow fell over the weekend and is now very wind affected. It overlies stiff old windslabs and sastrugi in the alpine and at treeline. Melt freeze crusts have formed below treeline and in steep solar locations at higher elevations. Where they exist, ski quality is poor as they are unsupportive and breakable. The lower snowpack is well settled with no significant weak layers.
Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 - 120 cm.
Weather Summary
Tues
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine high of -13°C with wind west 35 km/hr gusting to 70.
Wed
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Wind west 20 km/hr gusting to 40 and a high of -11°C in the alpine.
Thurs
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Wind west 35 km/hr gusting to 70. Alpine high of -9°C.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Westerly moderate to strong wind and flurries will continue to form windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. Pay special attention to slopes with stiffer feeling surface snow, especially on steep lees in the alpine.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5