Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton, Waterton Lakes.
Weather is improving and some clear days are ahead this week. Don't let nice weather and soft snow lull you into complacency. Use careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route-finding while the snowpack continues to adjust to the new load.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A large cycle occurred last week during the storm with natural avalanches to size 3. We suspect many of these failed on the Feb 03 crust/facet combo. Avalanches were observed at all elevations and on all aspects.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of low-density storm snow has fallen with moderate wind forming thin new windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. The Feb 3rd crust is down 50-100cm and has a thin layer of weak facets above it. The lower snowpack is a well-settled crust/facet complex to the ground. Average snowpack depths are between 100 - 200 cm.
Weather Summary
Tues
Broken skies with light flurries in the early morning. Alpine temps rise to -8°C with light to moderate SW.
Wed
Clear skies with no forecast precip. Temps continue to rise to -5°C in the alpine. Winds will be light to moderate SW
Thurs
Clear skies with no forecast precip. Temps steady at -5°C in the alpine. Winds will be light to moderate SW
For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
This layer likely requires larger triggers or thin spots to initiate.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Wind Slabs
New soft windslabs are building in lee features. Use caution where a human triggered windslab could step down to deeper buried persistent layers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5