Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 30th, 2024–May 3rd, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

It may be spring down low but it is still winter-like conditions up high.

Recent snowfall has been variable due to the convective weather. Be aware of how well the new snow is bonding to old crusts. Watch for reverse loading from north winds.

Read the Avalanche Canada Forecasters Blog for resources on how to navigate the switch to spring

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity reported on Monday. Nearest neighbours have been seeing dry loose & sluffing in the Alpine and wet loose at Treeline and below, all on steep terrain features. All size 1 or less.

Snowpack Summary

Sunday evening brought a good overnight refreeze all the way to valley bottom. Recent snowfall amounts vary with approx 10cm of new snow in the last few days. Recent snow has been redistributed by winds from all directions. A plethora of crusts extend up to at least 2600m, on all aspects, and to ridgetop on solar aspects.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada

Wednesday

Cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -2 °C.

Ridge wind northeast: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 2100m

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High 0 °C.

Ridge wind northeast: 10-30 km/h.

Freezing level: 2400m

Terrain and Travel Advice

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

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.