Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2023–Apr 5th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

The cooling has kept most of the region in an 'All Freeze, No Melt,' scenario. Spring convective activity continues to deliver variable amounts of new snow to the region.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

The cooling has kept the region in an 'All Freeze, No Melt,' scenario, with no new avalanche activity observed or reported.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of snow, on top of a sun crust at all elevations on solar aspects, with mixed facets on polar aspects. The mid-pack consists of multiple layers of dense wind-affected snow, sun crust, and facets. Depth hoar and basal facets make up the base of the snowpack. Snow depth varies ranges from 60-170cm.

Weather Summary

Little change is expected in the weather. Light variable winds may transport new snow from convective flurries. Freezing levels to rise daily up to 1500m. Temperatures are expected to be seasonal with cold nights and a daytime high of -7 C in the alpine.

Terrain and Travel Advice

When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Use caution on large alpine slopes, especially around thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilities.

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.