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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2025–Mar 21st, 2025

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Likely variable ski conditions over the next few days with sun and wind effect on the snowpack. Good skiing on sheltered northerly aspects. There is some uncertainty around the triggerability of the buried January weak layer, don't discount this in your decision making.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday and Monday we had a slab avalanche cycle with natural and skier triggered avalanches up to size 2. With the sunny skies we have been seeing solar triggered loose avalanches up to size 1.

Snowpack Summary

We have had up to 40 cm of new snow since March 13th. Strong ridgetop winds have built wind slabs in lee features in the alpine and treeline. There is a robust melt freeze crust buried 40 - 70 cm deep. This crust exists everywhere except for northerly aspects above 1900 m. The January drought layer lies 60 –130 cm deep, with snow depths at treeline averaging 130–200 cm.

Weather Summary

Clear skies and high pressure dominate the forecast period. See the table below for a more detailed forecast.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.

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 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.

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.