Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 12th, 2025 12:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Parks Canada, Avalanche Canada

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Seek out very sheltered areas if you are looking to find soft skiing. The wind has been hard at work in Waterton and windslabs will exist in many places.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural wind slab avalanches observed in steep cross loaded features to size 2. These avalanches were observed on last Tuesday's field day however likely occurred last weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme SW winds have formed stiff windslabs at all elevations. These slabs may have built on a layer of surface hoar that was observed in many locations, uncertain if it was destroyed by wind before the new slabs formed. Windward areas are stripped to old surfaces. The lower snowpack is well settled with no significant weak layers.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 - 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Sun

Cloudy with sunny periods, wind west 15 km/hr. Alpine high of -9°C

Mon

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Wind west 30 km/hr. High of -9°C in the alpine.

Tues

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Wind west 35 km/hr. Alpine high of -8°C.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New windslabs may be building on a layer of surface hoar that was observed in many places on the surface of the snowpack on Tuesday, prior to the wind. Uncertain if this layer was destroyed by the wind before the slabs built.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2025 4:00PM

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