Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2025–Feb 4th, 2025

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

Avalanche activity is likely for the next 48 hours through the storm, be alert for wind affected terrain where slabs are forming on a recently buried weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed but visibility has been limited during the storm.

Snowpack Summary

5 - 10 cm of new snow since Friday, with up to another 20 cm expected by Monday. New snow and wind has formed windslabs in alpine and treeline lees. This overlies the January drought layer which includes facetted snow on northerly aspects or a melt freeze crust below treeline and on steep solar slopes into the alpine. Generally, the snowpack has become weak and facetted.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 50 - 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Sun

5 - 10 cm of new snow, ridgetop winds 40 km/hr, easing to 25, from the southwest. Treeline high of -13°C, low of -22°C.

Mon

5 - 10 cm new snow overnight, scattered flurries through the day. Light ridgetop winds. Treeline high of -28°C, low of -29°C.

Tues

Mix of sun and cloud with minimal snowfall. Light ridgetop winds, treeline high of -24°C.

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.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.