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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 3rd, 2025–Jan 6th, 2025

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 possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

There is great skiing in the western areas of the park right now, however the wind is expected to increase over the day on Saturday - this will likely form sensitive wind slabs in the alpine and treeline. Once this happens, stay away from steep lee slopes and change your terrain use to lower angle and wind sheltered areas.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A few loose dry avalanches up to size 1, triggered with ski cuts on Thursday. No new natural avalanches have been observed.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of new snow has fallen in the past 6 days, with another 10 - 15 cm expected overnight on Friday. The new snow is mostly unconsolidated treeline and below, but with some wind effect in the alpine. The lower snowpack is well settled with no significant weak layers.

Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 - 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Sat

10 - 15 cm of snow by Sat morning, wind becoming southwest, 30 - 50 km/hr. Treeline high of -5°C, and low of -17°C.

Sun

Cloudy, wind southwest 50 km/hr, easing to 30. High of -3 at treeline.

Mon

Clearing with no significant precip expected. Wind easing to 20 km/hr from the north. Treeline high of -5°C.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for the most up to date information.-

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

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.

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.