Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Jan 18 – 21, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Hazard will be highest on Friday with an increase in wind. There is lots of fresh snow available for transport, choose ski lines carefully.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    At least two new windslabs sit above the most recent facet crust layer

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    This problem will most likely be found in steep sheltered areas at treeline and below and may be more reactive with fresh load on Wed and Thurs.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed

Snowpack Summary

10cm new snow overlies old windslabs. This sits on facets and melt-freeze crust. A thicker (5cm) layer of facets exists in more sheltered areas below treeline. In windy areas in the alpine and treeline windslab and settled snow may sit directly on the crust with little or no facets. This overlies a melt freeze crust complex and a generally more stable base of the snowpack. Areas close to the divide have the best snow coverage.

Weather Summary

Thurs

Skies clearing. Light to moderate E wind. Alpine High -15

Fri

Cloudy with flurries, temps increase to -2 during the day. Strong SW winds

Sat

Cloudy with flurries, temps around zero. winds Strong SW.

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Regions covered