Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Mar 15 – 18, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

A widespread natural avalanche cycle is likely with unseasonably warm temperatures and high freezing levels. This is a good weekend to avoid avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    This layer is likely to become more reactive with rising freezing levels this weekend.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Small wet loose avalanches could trigger persistent weak layers and result in large avalanches.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain as temperatures increase.
  • Persistent slabs have potential to pull back to lower angle terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural wet loose avalanches have been observed on solar aspects at all elevations. One natural, size 2 persistent slab avalanche was observed on Thursday, likely triggered by solar input and increasing temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

Moist surface snow all elevations on solar aspects. The Feb 3rd crust/facet persistent weak layer is buried 60-120 cm deep. Below this, the snowpack consists of a mixture of settled snow and crust/facet layers to ground. Snowpack depths between 80 - 250 cm.

Weather Summary

Sat

Clear skies with light northeast winds. Alpine temperatures staying above 0°C with alpine high of +7°C. Freezing level remains around 2800 m.

Sun

Sunny with light northerly winds. Freezing level 3500 m with an alpine high of +7°C.

Mon

Sunny with light winds. Freezing level 3400 m with an alpine high of +6°C.

For more info: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Regions covered