Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 3rd, 2026–Apr 7th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Crusts can be expected on solar aspects up to 2400m but northern aspects are still holding dry powder snow. With the warm temps and strong solar input, early starts are recommended. Watch for increasing westerly winds overnight building windslabs.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

A few loose wet and dry avalanches were observed throughout the field day on Friday. No new Slab avalanches were noted.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack remained dry above 2000m on northern aspects with very little wind affect noted. Solar aspects were getting moist by 1100am and by 1300 moist snow was found on all aspects below 2000m.

Recent mild temperatures are helping the snowpack settle out and slowly strengthen. The March 24th crust is down 50-60cm and this interface is staring to become less reactive.

Expect to encounter windslabs in alpine terrain along ridgelines but these slabs do not extend far downslope. With the forecasted increase in winds overnight, this problem will become more common in open terrain.

Weather Summary

Saturday is looking to have a mix of sun and cloud with some isolated spring time flurries. Temps in the alpine will be around -5C with a freezing level rising to 2200m throughout the day. Winds are forecast to increase to strong out of the west overnight.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
A hard crust on the snow surface will help strengthen the snowpack, but may cause tough travel conditions.
Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

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.