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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2026–Apr 20th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

High freezing levels and sun will lead to dangerous avalanche conditions through the day.

Conditions will deteriorate sooner than expected if a strong crust does not form overnight.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of warming will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been reported; however, observations have been very limited.

We do suspect natural loose wet avalanches have been widespread on steep, sun-exposed slopes during the afternoons, with a possibility of occasional cornice failures as well.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust is expected on the surface on all but northerly alpine terrain, where 20 to 40 cm of dry snow sits atop a crust. Some lower elevation areas below treeline may not experience an overnight refreeze and remain moist or isothermal.

A weak layer of facets above a hard crust is buried 50 to 70 cm deep. This layer hasn't produced avalanches in over a week.

Facets exist at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas.

Rising freezing levels and strong sun will weaken the snowpack throughout the day.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.

Monday
Sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.

Tuesday
Sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 mm of rain at treeline. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Think carefully about your exit plan from the backcountry because avalanche danger is expected to increase throughout the day.
  • Avalanche danger will increase as the surface crust breaks down.
  • Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

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.