Waterton Lakes

Warm days ahead, new snow will heat up and slide easily on the crust below.

Forecast hazard is for peak warming!

Natural avalanches to size 2 and ski cuts to size 1.5 were observed during a field day this week.

Last week numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed from steep terrain and on all aspects. Large debris piles can still be seen.

In the alpine and high treeline, 10-20 cm of snow sits over a melt freeze crust complex from last weeks warming events. The January melt freeze crust is buried up to 100cm. Alpine and Treeline midpack is well settled and overlies basal facets and depth hoar. Most places the snowpack is now moist to ground.

Saturday-Monday

Temps will begin to rise over the next three days, with alpine highs reaching +8 by Sunday. Some clear periods are expected but skies will be mostly broken. Precip should taper off by Saturday afternoon and winds will increase to moderate SW by Monday.

• Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, or solar radiation is strong.