Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Mar 5 – 8, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

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.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    New soft windslabs are building in lee features. Use caution where a human triggered windslab could step down to deeper buried persistent layers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3.5

    This layer likely requires larger triggers or thin spots to initiate.

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.

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