Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2026–Apr 9th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Warmer weather is coming! Hopefully we can squeeze in one more day of cool weather tomorrow before we set into a pattern of sun/heat induced afternoon snowpack deterioration. Be sure to keep an eye on changing conditions, snow changes very quickly with intense sun.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new reported or observed today.

Snowpack Summary

Crusts are the prominent layers in our changing snowpack. Thick, supportive surface crusts are up to 2500m and most aspects except true polar. Even polar aspects have crusts up to about 2200m. Beneath that are various other crusts that are helping hold it all together. With that said, the Mar 24 layer/interface is still evident and a potential failure plain on steep, high north country. Don't rule it out just yet.

The surface crust didn't start to break down until 2pm today, so travel conditions are still pretty good and will hopefully remain that way for tomorrow.

Weather Summary

Beautiful day in store for tomorrow. Clear skies, morning low of -15°, daytime high of 0° and light winds at all elevations. Freezing level 2200m.

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.
Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.

Problems

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.

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.

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.