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

Dec 23rd, 2023–Dec 26th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Watch for reactive new wind slabs in alpine terrain as the winds increase and re-distribute the new snow from Saturday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Snowpack Summary

5 - 15 cm of new snow at all elevations in the past 24 hours. This sits on older wind slabs and a basal crust in the alpine. Due to previous warm temps and rain there is very little snow on the ground below 1800 m.

Weather Summary

Sun

Mix of sun and cloud with moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing level remains at valley bottom.

Mon

Mix of sun and cloud with strong southwest winds. Freezing level valley bottom.

Tues

Winds increasing to strong - extreme from the west.

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme 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.