Avalanche Forecast

Archived

May 2nd, 2024–May 5th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

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

Read the Avalanche Canada Forecasters Blog for resources on how to navigate the switch to spring. It is important to monitor each nights freeze and relate it to the timing and degree in which how quickly the snowpack will destabilize.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Thursday's Maligne patrol noted numerous loose wet and dry size 1.5 on the steep alpine rock slabs along Medicine lake. Nothing of significance was observed on Wednesday's Maligne and Icefield patrols but visibility was very poor. Monday noted no new activity.

Snowpack Summary

Wednesday's snowfall amounts varied with Maligne receiving 30cm and Icefield's 5-10cm. Some of the snow is being redistributed by alpine ridgetop winds. The recent snow covers a cornucopia of crusts extending up to 2600m, on all aspects, and to ridgetop particularly on solar aspects.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada

Friday is predicted to bring sun, cloud, 3 °C, light winds, and 2500m freezing level. The prognosis for Saturday is similar to Friday except will be 6 °C and 2800m freezing level. Sunday's forecast is sun, isolated showers, warmer, and 3100m freezing level.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Extra caution for areas experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.

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.