Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2026–Apr 6th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Spring is working its magic on the snowpack with quick settling layers and generally good travel. Snow quality is the trade off with variable ski quality on some aspects. Sheltered north aspects have the best odds for finding good snow.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Nothing was reported or witnessed today, but there was almost certainly a late day loose wet cycle on solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

The most relevant change to talk about is the arrival of our beloved wind. The winds managed to build new slabs in alpine terrain, Westerly winds would put those slabs on easterly aspects, but expect some isolated westerly cross loading in tighter valleys. It seems treeline has been spared with only isolated new windslabs. Today was another day of sustained warm temperatures which had a settling effect from 2250-2400m. Below 2250m any sunny slope had moist snow by 1200. Expect a new surface crust by tomorrow morning.

Weather Summary

Sunday will be a bit warmer than today. Freezing level will be about 2300m, with 2000m temperatures around +5. Needless to say, but worth reiterating, expect high solar input tomorrow. This will soften the snow before the air warms up. To round out the forecast, expect broken skies, maybe a short lived flurry or two and light winds.

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.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Start your day early and be out of avalanche terrain during the heat of the day.

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.

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.

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.