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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2025–Apr 13th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Be alert to rapidly varying conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to sun and wind.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported this week, however, data is very limited.

Looking forward, we expect there may be potential for wet loose avalanches during the warmest parts of the day, or small wind slabs on high elevation wind-loaded slopes.

If you head to the backcountry this weekend, please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 20 cm of recent snow is overlying a crust at upper elevations. In most areas, the new snow will be moist or wet as the sun effect and daytime warming kick in. The exception will be high alpine north and east-facing slopes that may still hold dry snow and some potential wind slabs.

There are no layers of concern in the mid and lower snowpack. The snowpack is rapidly melting out at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Moslty cloudy, with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 35 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature low -5 °C. Freezing level 1600 m falling to valley bottom.

Sunday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Monday

Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.

Tuesday

Sunny. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Be alert to changing conditions throughout the day.

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.