Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2023–Apr 2nd, 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
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies, St. Mary, Bull, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Watch for small but reactive wind slabs as you gain elevation.

Small wind slabs may trigger larger avalanches on deeply buried weak layers. Continue to avoid wind affected, thin and rocky terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No activity on the deeply buried weak layers has been reported this week. Kananaskis Country and the central Rockies continue to report deep persistent avalanches, including a size 3 natural on the 28th of March in Highwood Pass associated with warm temperatures and sun.

Thin and rocky terrain features in the upper treeline and alpine should still be avoided.

Snowpack Summary

New snow and wind are forming wind slabs at higher elevations, over a melt freeze crust (on all aspects at low elevations, and on sun affected slopes to mountain top). On north facing slopes at treeline and alpine, new snow sits over previously wind affected surfaces.

The mid snowpack holds several persistent weak layers including layers of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and sun crusts on south facing slopes. No recent activity has occurred on these layers, but they may remain triggerable in isolated features.

The lower snowpack is made up of a widespread layer of large, weak basal facets and depth hoar in some areas, which produced large avalanches in the Elk Valley and the Purcells last week. Kananaskis Country reports continued avalanche activity on this layer. Avoid thin and rocky areas where this weak layer will sit closer to the surface.

Weather Summary

Saturday

Cloudy. Light flurries continue overnight. Light southwesterly wind gusting moderate. Freezing level drops to 500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries delivering a few cm of snow, heaviest close to the Alberta border with up to 5 cm. Light southwest winds. Freezing levels around 1300 m, alpine highs of -7 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with light easterly winds. Up to 5 cm snowfall possible in the east. Freezing levels reach 1100 m.

Tuesday

Clearing skies with 1300 m freezing levels. Light easterly winds.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

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.

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.