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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 22nd, 2026–Feb 25th, 2026

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

The wind has turned on and we are expecting up to 22 cm by Monday night. Lookout out for building wind slabs near ridgecrests and for loaded pockets. Dry loose activity will continue to be a problem in sheltered steep terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about forecast snowfall amounts.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous dry loose avalanches to size 1.5 observed over the last couple days.

Snowpack Summary

Upper snowpack: Up to 22 cm of new snow is expected accompanied by moderate to strong southwest wind. This will continue to build wind slabs on lee slopes. On solar aspects the new snow sits over a crust at and below treeline.

Mid snowpack: 30-50 cm of settling snow from last week's storms sit over a series of melt freeze crusts and faceted layers on polar aspects. On solar aspects, last week's snow sits over a singular melt freeze crust.

Lower snowpack: is well settled.

Weather Summary

Mon

Up to 22 cm snow by end of day. Low of -7 °C, High of -3 °C. SW Wind gusting to 75 km/h. Freezing level at 1700 m.

Tues

Sunny with cloudy periods. Low of -9 °C, High of -4 °C. SW Wind gusting to 60 km/h. Freezing level at 1700 m.

Wed

Mix of sun, clouds and isolated flurries. Up to 4 cm of snow. Low of -7 °C, High of -4 °C. SW Wind gusting to 75 km/h. Freezing level at 1700 m.

Current weather forecast: Mountain Weather Forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger 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.

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 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.