Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

No notable avalanches were reported on Friday before 4 pm. Very few professional operations are still running, so remember that a lack of avalanche observations does not necessarily mean a lack of avalanche activity.

We suspect that the weight of a human could still trigger windslab avalanches below ridgetops and in cross-loaded gully features. Also, warm temperatures and intense spring sun can quickly make loose wet avalanches likely.

On Wednesday, west of Golden, a few small, touchy windslab avalanches were reported. They were triggered remotely from 20 meters away, by skiers skinning along a ridge.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network). You can share riding conditions, avalanche or snowpack observations, or even just a photo or two. Heck, tell us what you had for lunch if that was the most eventful part of your day.

At treeline and above, 15-30 cm of recent snow fell with moderate to strong southwest wind, forming windslabs in leeward terrain. A variety of crust, surface hoar and/or facet layers that were buried in mid March through early April may exist in the upper snowpack. None of them seem to be a current avalanche problem. Most professional operations in the forecast area are tracking their own local layer of concern to see if they become active with increasing temperatures, or more load from new rain or snow.

Below treeline, expect to find moist or refrozen surfaces, and shrinking snowpack depths.

The mid snowpack is generally settled and strong, although west of Invermere, some professional operations are still monitoring a layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals that was buried in mid January.

The lower snowpack includes a widespread layer of large, weak facets and/or depth hoar crystals. This weak layer has been responsible for several very large and destructive avalanches throughout the season, including one last Thursday.

Friday Night

Clear. No new snow expected. Freezing level falling to valley bottom. Treeline low around -5°C. Light southwest ridgetop wind.

Saturday

Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Freezing level rising to 2000 m. Treeline high around 0°C. Light southwest ridgetop wind.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Freezing level at 1300 m overnight rising to 2100 m. Moderate SW wind in the high alpine.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 2-5 cm of snow expected. Freezing level around 1000 m overnight, rising to 1500 m. Light southwest ridgetop wind.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
• Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.