Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 24th, 2025–Apr 28th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

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

Spring is seemingly here to stay. Daytime highs and solar input is increasing the loose wet likelihood, especially in late afternoon. When planning a trip, watch the timing of temperature swings and the quality of the overnight freeze.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent activity observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is steadily transitioning to a Spring snowpack.

On north aspects in the Alpine, dry snow can still be found, and weaknesses in the lower snowpack could still be triggered, as these areas have not completely morphed into a Spring snowpack. Otherwise all other aspects and elevations consist of multiple layers of crusts and/or a well settled snowpack. These crusts will break down through the day depending on air temperatures and solar radiation. There are still many areas with basal facets/depth hoar that could awaken if the snowpack gets warm enough.

Timing is everything. As surface crusts break down during the day the avalanche hazard will begin to increase. Start early and finish early.

Weather Summary

The spring swing is in effect. Daytime highs and freezing levels will continue to rise each day, while overnight lows become warmer and shorter in duration. Expect high solar inputs as well, even if skies are cloudy.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.
Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

Problems

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.