Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton, Waterton Lakes.
Unsettled, cooling weather is promoting a refrozen snowpack with lingering wind slabs in the alpine.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 1.5 have been observed, primarily occurring in solar-affected storm snow sitting on top of a melt-freeze crust.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack consists of 15 - 30 cm of old storm snow that is now moist and beginning to refreeze, except on high north-facing slopes where it remains dry. This overlies a melt-freeze crust and a deeper snowpack that is slowly refreezing. The persistent January drought layer is buried 50–130 cm deep, and total snow depths at treeline range from 130–200 cm.
Weather Summary
Unsettled weather the next few days with cooler temps and occasional flurries. Warming back up on Thursday. See photo for a more detailed 3-day forecast.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate big and steep terrain features before committing to them.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
A wind slab problem exists where recent storm snow has been redistributed by wind, particularly on leeward slopes and in alpine terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5