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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2026–Feb 8th, 2026

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

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Several days without an overnight freeze followed by cooling temps and incoming precipitation will quickly change our avalanche problem from loose wet to windslab. Pay close attention to signs of solar warming on Friday and Saturday and consider avoiding lee terrain as the next storm arrives on Sunday.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed on Wednesday and no field work conducted on Thursday during warming event.

Snowpack Summary

Alpine/Treeline: Surface snow is moist. 5-20 cm of wind slab exists in lee features. In sheltered areas, 10 cm of snow overlies a 2-15cm crust. 10-15 cm of facets sits below this layer. The lower snowpack is well settled with multiple crusts. Total snow height is 160-200cm.

Below Treeline: The upper 10 cm are moist. The mid-pack is a series of crusts and facets. Lower snowpack is melt forms to ground. Total height of snow is 40-110cm.

Weather Summary

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine High of 6 °C and Low of 0 °C. Light wind gusting to 35 km/h. Freezing level at 3700 m.

Saturday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine Low of 1 °C, High of 3 °C. Wind gusting to 50 km/h. Freezing level of 2600 m.

Sunday

Wet flurries with accumulation of 6 cm. Alpine Low of 1 °C, High of 3 °C. Wind gusting to 70 km/h. Freezing level at 2400 m.

Current weather forecast: Mountain Weather Forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

Problems

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.

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.