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 28th, 2025–Mar 3rd, 2025

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Numerous large avalanches have been observed in Waterton in the last 24h. Expect to see more activity with this weekends warm temperatures. Now is the time to choose very conservative terrain or head to the ski hill.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Another widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on Thursday during a wind event. Persistent slab avalanches were observed to size 3.

See the photo for a size 3 avalanche captured in motion on the NW slopes of Blackiston.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of storm snow from this weekend has been redistributed by SW winds up to 80km/h. These winds have formed windslabs up to 100cm deep at treeline and in the alpine. This overlies the Jan 31 drought layer is down 60-100 cm. Snowpack is generally thin and facetted at all elevations. HS on treeline lees avg 130- 200 cm. Below 1800m snow was moist and has now began to re-freeze.

Weather Summary

Snow arrives on Monday but first a warm weekend.

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.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Wet avalanche activity may step down to deeply buried persistent weak layers at lower elevations.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.