Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Dec 20 – 23, 2020
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Our new snow is delayed until early next week but the strong to extreme winds have arrived as scheduled. Watch out for pockets of intense wind loading.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Continued Strong to Extreme westerly winds have created wind slabs which sit above a crust.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Chances of avalanches will increase if snowfall amounts exceed forecast.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: 10cm snow at Cameron Lake with wet snow in townsite. Freezing level 1500m. Strong to Extreme West Wind.

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy with scattered flurries. Strong West wind with gusts over 100km/h.

Monday: 15-20 cm of snow with freezing level at 1900m. Continued strong winds.

Snowpack Summary

At Cameron lake: 25cm of storm snow has been redistributed by strong SW wind. This has created thick wind slabs which sit over the Dec 9th melt freeze crust. The mid snowpack is well consolidated with a ice crust forming the base of the snowpack. Treeline snow depth at Cameron lake up to 1.5m with amounts tapering quickly at lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches observed.

Confidence

Regions covered