Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2025–Apr 10th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

As the temperature rises and the sun comes out, avalanche activity will become more likely.

Move to more conservative terrain as it warms up.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported since the weekend.

On Friday, skiers remotely triggered a slab on a northeast lee ridge feature at treeline near Mt. Fisher.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 10 cm of new snow sits on a crust at higher elevations, transitioning to moist snow below 2000 m. High alpine north facing slopes may still hold dry snow above a thick crust from late March.

The snowpack is quickly disappearing below treeline.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, clearing. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud with 1 cm of snow. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche danger will increase as the surface crust breaks down.
Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.
Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.