Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Jan 18 – 21, 2022
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Numerous days of warm temps are deteriorating ice climbs. Look for shady or north facing climbs as ice rebuilds.

Hoping for more snow on Tuesday to improve ski quality.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Strong to extreme SW winds and new snow will form windslabs in lees.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2.5–4

    A few significant large avalanches ran on this layer last week.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries, 10-15 cm accumulation. Moderate west winds. Alpine high -15. FL valley bottom.

Wednesday: Clearing through day. Moderate west winds. Alpine high -8. FL valley bottom.

Thursday: Partially cloudy with flurries. Strong extreme  west winds. Alpine high -5. FL 1500m.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels on monday rose to 2100m. A 15 cm rain crust exist up to 2000m. A 1 cm temp crust exists to 2400m on solar aspects. Alpine surfaces range from hard windslab in lees and to bare ground. Well settled midpack. Facets above Dec 4 crust down 150-200 cm. A 20-60 cm thick Nov crust complex completes snowpack to ground.

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of previous cycle (Jan 8-12), with avalanches from size 2 - 4 can still be seen in most avalanche paths. No new avalanches reported or observed today. Limited field observations. Thanks to everyone posting on the Mountain Information Network, keep up the great work, we really do read them.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Regions covered