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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2026–Mar 21st, 2026

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Significant rain is expected at all elevations. Temperatures will remain above zero until Saturday morning, making wet loose avalanches the primary concern.

Exercise caution on steep slopes with moist surface snow, as wet avalanches may run bigger and farther due to a solid crust underneath.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

One size 2.5 wind slab avalanche and several wet loose avalanches to size 2 were observed on Wednesday along the Akamina Parkway.

Snowpack Summary

New precipitation is falling as snow/rain in the alpine and as rain at treeline and below treeline. Snow is moist at all elevations. A crust is down 20-40cm and 2-8 cm thick with several other crusts deeper in the snowpack. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled with total snowpack depth ranging from 130-220 cm at treeline and in the alpine. 40-120cm below treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday

Isolated rain showers. Low of 2 °C. High of 5 °C. Wind gusting to 70 km/h. Freezing level of 2700 m.

Friday

Periods of rain, up to 18 mm. Low of 3 °C. High of 5 °C. Wind gusting to 70 km/h. Freezing level of 2800 m.

Saturday

Isolated flurries. Low of -3 °C. High of 3 °C. Wind gusting to 65 km/h. Freezing level of 2400 m.

Current weather forecast: Mountain Weather Forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Recent strong wind means wind slabs may be found farther downslope than expected.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.