Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2026–Apr 13th, 2026

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Spring Conditions

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Spring Conditions

Below Treeline

Spring Conditions

Regions

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

A cloudy day is forecast for Sunday with a high freezing level. Check the quality of the freeze overnight and watch for warming temperatures throughout the day. Start early and be done early!

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

A few loose wet avalanche's from steep solar aspects. No new slab avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Well here we go into spring! A widespread crust can be found on all aspects as high as the peaks on all aspects except pure north. The crust was breaking down by 11am on solar aspects on Friday so field teams were happy to be out of the field early before the snowpack went isothermal at lower elevations. Isolated windslabs may be found on pure northern aspects at upper elevations.

A few cornices collapses have been observed over the past few days but these did not trigger slabs on underlying slopes.

Corn snow is out there now you just have to be early to ensure good timing.

Be sure to check the quality of the freeze overnight before you go! Stability will change throughout the day as the conditions warm up.

Weather Summary

Cloudy skies with no new snow. Overnight lows of around -7C and daytime highs of +4C in the valley floor with a freezing level climbing to 2800m. Be sure to assess the quality of the freeze overnight as cloudy conditions can limit the freeze.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.