Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2025–Apr 9th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

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

Start and end your day early, and stay flexible in your trip planning.

The cooling trend hasn't improved travel conditions below treeline.

Confidence

High

Snowpack Summary

Moist snowpack treeline and below where spring temperatures are penetrating well into the snow on all but cold north aspects in the alpine and treeline. Near-surface crusts on solar aspects are unsupportive without a good overnight freeze. A 50-100 cm settled mid-pack rests on top of weak facets, depth hoar, and old crusts. Tree line snow depth is 80-130 cm.

Weather Summary

Overnight: Cloudy, isolated flurries. Low -6°C. Ridge wind SW: 20 km/h.

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. High -3 °C. Ridge wind SW: 25 km/h. Freezing level: 1900 metres.

Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. High 1 °C. Mostly light ridge winds with moderate gusts, freezing level: 2400 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

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.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.