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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 12th, 2025–Jan 14th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

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.

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

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.