Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Still good skiing on sheltered northerly aspects. Despite the cool and cloudy forecast it's still a good plan to start your trip early and plan to be back at the trailhead before the daytime heating and/or solar radiation effects the snowpack. Check out Avalanche Canada's blog on Spring Conditions for some good tips.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No field team today. No avalanches reported or observed.
Snowpack Summary
A few cm's of new snow fell Tuesday morning. Wind slabs are evident in the alpine on all aspects. While these slabs are not deep, they could be sensitive to triggering where the underlying surface is a smooth crust. Otherwise, expect a melt-freeze surface layer (or near surface) on all solar aspects as well as all aspects at lower elevations. Higher elevation northerly aspects still hold dry snow. Cornices are starting to sag in the mid-April heat, and some recent collapses have been observed.
Weather Summary
Thursday is expected to be mainly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow. Temps will remain below freezing with daytime high of -2C expected and freezing levels at 1900m. Winds will be moderate from the North at ridgetop.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
- Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
- Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slab were observed on all aspects in the alpine. These may be more sensitive to triggering where the underlying crust is prominent.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Watch for sheltered northern areas where this layer may still exist. If triggered slabs could step down into the basal layers.
Aspects: North, North East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches are not likely on Thursday given the cloudy and cool forecast, but be mindful that at this time of year any short bursts of solar radiation could be enough to trigger slides.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2