Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2024–Apr 8th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

Cooler temps overnight may promote better travel in the early hours to get to nice dry North facing snow, Plan to start early and finish early, watch the changing snow conditions, especially on solar aspects if the sun does come out.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No field teams today. No avalanche reported.

Snowpack Summary

20-40cm of last week's snow has settled fast with the warm temps and has become moist on all aspects below 2400m. This overlying a temperature crust that developed early in the week. This crust is being found up to 2300m and while supportive to skiing, its sitting on top of a generally moist snowpack. Crusts are common on the solar aspects but less so on the more polar sides. There are some isolated windslabs in alpine areas along ridgelines but this problem does not appear to be widespread. Recent snow combined with cloudy weather hasn't allowed the snowpack to get a significant refreeze that is common for spring time.

An important thing to consider at this time of year is the quality of the freeze overnight. Over the past 2 days, freezes have been generally poor with overnight lows only around -8C. Avalanche danger can change from low in the cool mornings to high in the hot afternoons. The timing of this change is important to monitor so plan you trips with these factors in mind.

Weather Summary

Monday once again will be a mix of sun and cloud. No snow in the forecast and a night time low of -9. (One of the colder nights we have had in over a week.) The winds will be howling up high in the 50-70km/h range from the West

Freezing levels will hover around 1900 meters.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.
Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

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.