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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 2nd, 2025–Apr 3rd, 2025

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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies, Akamina, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Carefully assess and verify conditions as you move through terrain

New snow and wind could form rider triggerable slabs

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small, natural and skier triggered wet and dry loose avalanches continue to be reported in the region.

Snowpack Summary

By mid day on Thursday up to 15 cm of new snow could have accumulated with moderate southwest wind. This new snow will overlie a crust, except on high north facing terrain, Where up to 40 cm overlies the late March crust. Below these crusts, the upper snowpack is moist.

A weak layer of facets from late January can still be found down around 1 meter. This layer remains a concern on high north facing terrain where the late March layer isn't present.

The snowpack is quickly disappearing below treeline. Check out this MIN from our field team.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy in the morning with 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Friday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind . Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

Problems

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.

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.