Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2025–Apr 7th, 2025

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

Ghost.

Warm temperatures, high freezing levels, and intense solar radiation are forecast for the next few days. In the morning when cooler and the snowpack is in a frozen state avalanches will be less likely, this will change throughout the day as temperatures warm up and stability decreases making avalanches more likely. Start early, minimize overhead terrain, and be done early.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new or recent observations. No reported events into the Kananaskis Region office.

Snowpack Summary

A thick crust can be found in the upper snowpack that developed in late march. Recent snow over the past week has buried this crust down 30-60cm. Storm slabs and windslabs can be found in the upper snowpack that will be reactive to traffic from ice climbers. Cornices over popular routes such as the Sorcerer have also been reported as large. Clear skies and strong solar influence will allow stability to deteriorate throughout the day so pay attention to overhead terrain in the sun.

Even a small avalanche can have large consequences in steep or gullied terrain so use be thinking about that as you travel. Routes that commonly don't have avalanche hazard will be affected by this incoming storm.

Weather Summary

-7 forecast overnight with generally light winds . The freezing level will climb to 2500m and skies are forecast to be clear so pay attention to the strong solar radiation decreasing stability later in the day especially on solar aspects.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Ice climbers should be equipped with avalanche safety gear.
Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

Problems

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.