Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2026–Apr 8th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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.

It's April and the sun is strong! Start early and finish early, especially if your trip involves exposure to solar aspects.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new reported or observed today.

Snowpack Summary

Between 5 and 10cm of new snow has fallen in the past 24hrs. This overlies a crust on polar aspects up to 2350m and to ridgetop on solar aspects. Snow transport was observed today at mountaintop, so we expect wind slab development is on-going in lee and cross-loaded features at upper elevations.

The March 24th crust interface has significant faceting above the crust. This layer is buried 40cm at TL and is producing variable test results from moderate to hard.

The bears are awake! Tracks have been observed in the snow. Time to pack the sun hat, skin wax and bear spray!

Weather Summary

Wednesday will be mostly sunny with temps climbing from -10C in the morning to -1C in the afternoon. Winds will be light from the West. No precipitation is expected and freezing levels should reach 2000m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.

Problems

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.

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.