Avalanche Forecast

Archived

May 8th, 2024–May 15th, 2024

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Glacier.

The first major heat wave is here. Warm temps, strong sunshine, and high freezing levels will trigger a widespread avalanche cycle.

Temps will not drop overnight, increasing the likelihood of major, full-depth avalanches with each hot day.

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Confidence

High

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface likely consists of a mix of hard melt-freeze crust and dry snow depending on aspect and elevation. Sun-exposed slopes may undergo daily melting and freezing whereas northerly alpine slopes could remain dry with potential slabs.

The Feb 3rd crust is the dominant mid-pack layer and make reawaken under periods of intense, prolonged warming or rain.

For more spring travel resources, check out the forecasters’ blog.

Weather Summary

For information on mountain weather, please visit the Mountain Weather Forecast on the Avalanche Canada website.

Terrain and Travel Advice

The likelihood of deep persistent slab avalanches will increase with each day of warm weather.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.