Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2025–Apr 10th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

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

Strong solar radiation and daytime heating will increase the avalanche hazard in the afternoon. Start early and finish early. Sheltered north aspects still exhibit good skiing.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new observed in the past 24hrs but observations were limited.

Snowpack Summary

Another 5cm at treeline overnight brings recent storm snow to 10 to 20cm, but this is settling rapidly with the warm temps. Fresh thin wind slabs can be expected at upper elevations. The recent snow is overlying a thick temperature crust on solar aspects that carries the weight of a skier. East and west aspects have more of a breakable crust and only pure north aspects have dry snow. The March 28th crust is down 20-50cm and found as high as 2600m. Above this elevation on the northern aspects there is still some uncertainty with regards to the basal layers so continue to be curious at this elevation. Intense solar radiation will increase avalanche danger levels especially if there was a poor freeze overnight due to high freezing levels.

Weather Summary

A mix of sun and cloud Thursday with alpine temps topping out around +4C and freezing levels near 2700m. Winds will start the day at moderate from the SW, but increase to extreme (100km/h+) by early evening. No precipitation is expected.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.

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 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.

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.