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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2025–Apr 17th, 2025

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

We are entering the spring mountain season. The main problems will be surface instabilities, daytime warming, and looming overhead cornices.

Unfortunately the ice climbing scene is grim with the exception of those willing to get their alpinism on.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A few skier triggered loose dry avalanches up to size one were observed by the field team on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25 cm of new snow with higher amounts in eastern areas of the park. There is a melt freeze crust below the new snow everywhere except northerly aspects in the alpine. Generally the lower snowpack is well settled with the January drought layer down 50-130 cm and a total tree line snowpack depth of 130-200 cm.

Below treeline the snowpack is rapidly decreasing and partially buried hazards and unsupportive snow may exist.

Weather Summary

Snow tapering Wednesday night with clear skies by Friday. See photo for a more detailed 3-day forecast.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Carefully evaluate big and steep terrain features before committing to them.

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.