Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Feb 22 – 25, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

We are in a period of change with significant warming this week and between 15 - 35 cm of new snow over the next few days.

The new snow will fall on a relatively weak snowpack - make conservative terrain choices this weekend until the new snow stabilizes and we understand better how the persistent layer will react to this new load.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Lots of uncertainty with this problem, but we suspect it will become more reactive in the warm up and with new snow this weekend. Smaller avalanches could also step down to this layer resulting in a larger avalanche.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    We may have a storm slab problem by Monday morning, this will depend on the actual new snow amounts. If we have 25 cm or greater of new storm snow, expect that storm slabs will be triggerable in steeper areas on all aspects.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, a few natural windslabs in steep slopes below cliffs were observed, and one natural size 2 slab avalanche which we suspect was a persistent slab.

Snowpack Summary

15 - 35 cm of new snow is expected to fall over the weekend and into Monday.

Strong southwesterly winds are building windslabs at all elevations. The January drought layer is 30 - 60 cm down. This layer includes facetted snow on northerly aspects or a melt freeze crust below treeline and on steep solar slopes into the alpine. Generally, the snowpack is weak and facetted.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 100 - 160 cm.

Weather Summary

Warm temperatures and strong winds continue with up to 35 mm of precipitation by Monday. See table for details.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

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