Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Spring is creeping higher everyday. The alpine isn't quite there yet, but its close. Keep an eye out for local instabilities from wind loading and new snow.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Nothing was seen or reported today.
Snowpack Summary
The temperatures today exceeded the forecast, and reached a high of 5 degrees at Burstall Pass. With the clear skies, expect any sun exposed slope to have a surface crust by tomorrow morning. The shady areas above 2300m still have dry snow. As the winds arrive windslabs will likely form in immediate lee areas above treeline. The collection of sun and/or temperature crusts are helping to keep the deeper persistent layers from being a problem.
Weather Summary
Light snow is predicted to start overnight Saturday and bring 3-6cm. Temperatures will remain steady at -4. Ridge winds will be strong out of the SW to W. Valley bottom winds will be moderate and gusty, likely from a variety of direction.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- 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.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Isolated wind slabs will form from tomorrow's incoming wind. There's a fair bit of snow available for transport on northern aspects. Watch for variable wind directions and gusts.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
Cooler temperatures have lowered the likelihood of triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3