Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, 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.
Highly variable upper snowpack requires cautious terrain evaluation at all elevations.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries in the AM. Moderate NE winds. Alpine High -20Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Moderate NE winds. Alpine High - 11Thursday: Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Moderate E winds. Alpine high -14
Snowpack Summary
The upper snowpack is highly variable with a variety of Windslab and Wind affect in all but the most protected areas. The midpack remains strong in deep snowpack areas, but is acting as a slab above deep weak layers in shallower areas that is reactive skiers mainly at below treeline elevations where melt freeze crusts have been preserved.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity observed in the past 24h.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.