Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2025–Apr 13th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

A warm day is forecast for Friday with a dusting of new snow overnight. We are transitioning to a spring snowpack at lower elevations so best to start early and be done early being out of avalanche terrain before the warm temperatures begin to destabilize the snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new observed in the past 24hrs but observations were limited.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of recent snow has been settling fast with the warm temperatures. Fresh thin wind slabs can be expected at upper elevations. The recent snow is overlying a thick temperature crust on solar aspects that carries the weight of a skier. East and west aspects have more of a breakable crust and only pure north aspects have dry snow. The March 28th crust is down 20-50cm and found as high as 2600m. Above this elevation on the northern aspects there is still some uncertainty with regards to the basal layers so continue to be curious at this elevation. Intense solar radiation will increase avalanche danger levels especially if there was a poor freeze overnight due to high freezing levels.

Weather Summary

Winds are forecast to increase over the next 24hrs in to the moderate range with 2-5cm of new snow forecast by 9am There is a weak freeze forecast for the region tonight so be sure to asses the the quality of freeze via the weather stations before planning your trip. Fridays freezing level is forecast to reach 2700m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.

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.

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.