Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Apr 7 – 10, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Unsettled, cooling weather is promoting a refrozen snowpack with lingering wind slabs in the alpine.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    A wind slab problem exists where recent storm snow has been redistributed by wind, particularly on leeward slopes and in alpine terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 1.5 have been observed, primarily occurring in solar-affected storm snow sitting on top of a melt-freeze crust.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack consists of 15 - 30 cm of old storm snow that is now moist and beginning to refreeze, except on high north-facing slopes where it remains dry. This overlies a melt-freeze crust and a deeper snowpack that is slowly refreezing. The persistent January drought layer is buried 50–130 cm deep, and total snow depths at treeline range from 130–200 cm.

Weather Summary

Unsettled weather the next few days with cooler temps and occasional flurries. Warming back up on Thursday. See photo for a more detailed 3-day forecast.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate big and steep terrain features before committing to them.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

Regions covered