Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Apr 7 – 10, 2022
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Freezing levels remain high Thursday night into Friday. Keep big objectives for cooler day ahead.

A cold front coming in Friday afternoon will improve avalanche hazard for the weekend. Expect to travel through a variety of snow surfaces.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Thursdays and Fridays warm temps well into the alpine is weakening cornices making them more likely to fail.

  • Loose Wet

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

    With overnight freezing levels remaining high through thursday night we don't expect the snow pack to get a good refreeze overnight. This problem will improve through the weekend as temps cool off.

Weather Forecast

Tonight: Cloudy with clear periods. Moderate SW winds. Freezing levels 3000m.

Fri: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated wet flurries. Alpine high +5. Mod gusting extreme SW winds. FL 3400m.

Sat: Cloudy with flurries, 7 cm. Alpine high -5. Light to mod gusting strong W winds. FL 1400m.

Sun: Flurries, 8 cm. Alpine high of -5. Light W winds. FL 3000m.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 19 cm of storm snow is settling and becoming moist with high freezing levels Thursday. SW winds formed 15-30 cm windslabs in alpine lees. New snow buried refrozen surfaces on all aspects well into ALP. A series of crusts and windslab make up the midpack. Lower snowpack is well settled 1F to P. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity increasing each afternoon with day time heating. Numerous size 1 wet loose avalanches reported in last two days. Please report any observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Regions covered