Avalanche Forecast

Archived

May 3rd, 2024–May 6th, 2024

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

A clearing trend and high freezing levels are forecast for Saturday and we expect the natural avalanche cycle to continue with a poor freeze overnight. By Sunday the snowpack, we expect natural avalanche activity to begin to taper.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Numerous wet slabs and loose wet avalanches up to sz 2.5 on all aspects. Two recent skier accidental avalanches also occurred on north aspects at 2400m failing within the recent storm snow down 75-100cm in wind affected areas.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 60cm of recent storm snow has settled fast with the warmer temperatures and is quickly settling into a reactive storm and or wet slab. This snow is overlying a variety of surfaces from crusts on solar aspects to dry snow on steep northern polar aspects. When the sun comes out, we are expecting a natural avalanche cycle to occur. Wet slabs and numerous loose wet avalanches were observed on Friday.

Weather Summary

The storm is finally ending and we are looking to return to back to spring, hopefully for the last time! A mix of sun and cloud are forecast for Saturday with freezing levels around 2600m. Winds will be light out of the SW.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.