Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 24th, 2023–Feb 27th, 2023

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 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.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

A rapid increase in temps coupled with a significant wind event has created dangerous avalanche conditions. Up to 50cm of storm snow is being rapidly transported at all elevations. Sticking to sheltered terrain will help to decrease your risk and keep your hat from blowing away!

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new naturals were observed this week, however, visibility has been poor.

Thanks to all the great posts this week on the Mountain Information Network, keep it up!!!

Snowpack Summary

30-50cm storm snow from this week is being redistributed by SW winds into new windslabs. This overlies a stiffer windslab from last week's wind events and the Mid-January crust interface that is now down 50-120 cm. Alpine and Treeline midpack is well settled and overlies basal facets and depth hoar, especially in thin areas. Below treeline, the Jan Crust overlies facets and depth hoar to ground.

Weather Summary

Saturday

Alpine high of -8 today under clear skies. Winds will be extreme from the SW, and no new precip expected

Sunday

Alpine high today of -5 with broken skies. Light flurries and winds decrease to strong SW.

Monday

Alpine high today of -15 with overcast skies and light flurries. Winds decrease to moderate out of the SW.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.