Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2026–Apr 18th, 2026

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.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

Spring will make another attempt at arriving tomorrow. Watch solar input very carefully and expect rapid changes on any slope that sees sun. It is time to put the "start early, finish early" tactic into use. As spring sets in, hazard reflects the late day softening of the snowpack.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Some minor loose dry avalanches once the sun came out. Other than that, nothing new in the Black Prince area.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has settled into 20-30cm at ridgeline. Solar effect is limited to low elevation, or due south and steep. Polar aspects still dry snow above 1900m. There is some wind effect in the alpine, but still limited to cols and immediate lees.

Weather Summary

Looks like clear skies and warm temperatures tomorrow. High of +2 by early afternoon. Light winds for most of the day, there may be a few gusty moments in the late afternoon.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

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.