Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 29th, 2024–May 2nd, 2024

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

HIGH AVALANCHE HAZARD - HEAVY SNOWFALL WARNING

Up to 60cm of snow is expected by Wednesday. Avoid the backcountry until the storm passes and the avalanche hazard has diminished.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Expect to see lots of avalanche activity with this incoming storm.

Snowpack Summary

!!! UPDATE !!!

Heavy snowfall warning with up to 60cm of snow is expected for the Kananaskis Region from Monday night to Wednesday. This will bring the hazard rating to HIGH. This new snow will now be sitting on top of a mostly firm or melt/freeze crust on all aspects and will likely be a good sliding interface, especially on steeper terrain. This new snow will likely form a soft slab with the warmer temperatures or a wind slab with the forecast winds. Both of these slabs will be sensitive to triggering and have the potential to propagate far.

Patience is the game here; wait for the new snow to settle and bond before venturing into the backcountry.

Weather Summary

Heavy snowfall warning for the Kananaskis Region with up to 60cm of storm snow by Wednesday. Expect 25cm of snow by Tuesday morning with the rest falling on Tuesday and Wednesday. Winds are expected to be Westerly in the moderate range and increasing on Wednesday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.