Avalanche danger is generally low. However, large avalanches are possible on shaded alpine slopes.
Scroll down to the avalanche summary section to see the type of terrain to avoid.
Weak, sugary facets over a hard melt-freeze crust may be found 50 to 70 cm deep. This layer is most likely to avalanche in thin, rocky areas, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.
On Wednesday, our field team spotted large (size 2.5) persistent slab avalanche triggered by a cornice fall on Window Mountain. It likely occurred on Tuesday. See photo below.
On Sunday, a very large persistent slab avalanche released naturally near Crowsnest Pass. See the photos for more information.
Expect to find a hard crust on the surface up to 2100 m, and right up to mountaintops in steep terrain facing the sun.
Steep terrain facing the sun also has the potential to have loose wet surface snow in the heat of the afternoon. Right now we've had overnight temperatures that promote a nightly refreeze, so any moist or wet snow is not expected to be very deep.
Weak sugary snow above a crust from late March is buried about 50 to 70 cm deep.
Below this, the snowpack is generally well consolidated. However, facets exist at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas near Elkford.
Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind decreasing to 10 km/h by the morning. Treeline low -6 °C. Freezing level falling to valley bottom.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2350 m.
Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
