Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Mar 8 – 11, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 6 months ago

Avalanche danger

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

Another round of winter is expected early in the week as temps drop and snow falls. Newly formed wind slabs will be the primary concern with the forecasted stormy days ahead. Use caution in wind loaded features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    New snow and wind will form fresh wind slabs in lee features

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of new snow sits over widespread wind effect at all elevations. Exposed windward slopes are scoured to crust and sastrugi is common in open terrain. On northerly aspects there is less wind effect. Recent warm temps and solar input have moistened the surface snow at treeline and below. Beneath this, 30–50 cm of settled snow overlies crusts and facets. The lower snowpack is generally well settled.

Weather Summary

Sunday

Rain and snow up to 6cm. Alpine high of +6 °C. Wind gusting to 80 km/h. Freezing level of 2000 m.

Monday

Snow up to 10 cm. Alpine high of -5 °C. Winds 30 km/h. Freezing level drops to valley bottom.

Tuesday

Snow up to 5 cm. Alpine high of -5 °C. Winds 30 km/h. Freezing level valley bottom.

Current weather forecast: Mountain Weather Forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Regions covered