Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2019–Apr 21st, 2019

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Happy Easter! The recent snow and winds have built new windslabs in alpine areas. Solar radiation is forecast to be strong Sunday and Monday so early starts are critical.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

The remainder of the easter weekend is looking clear and warm with no new precip forecast. Early starts are key right now and people should be paying close attention to aspects they are on or under as temperatures warm up.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches up to sz 2 have been observed over the past few days on all aspects below treeline. Some loose wet have also triggered wet slabs on the underlying slopes. This is largely due to poor quality of overnight freezes and periods of light rain.

Snowpack Summary

Snow and strong winds over the past week are keeping windslabs 30-40cm thick a problem in alpine areas. At treeline and below, the snowpack is generally a moist spring snowpack with its strength largely dependent upon aspect, quality of overnight freeze, day time temperature and issues associated with rapid loading from rain and or new snow. Place close attention to all of these key aspects when making your a decision and remember, you can always back off and come back another day...or season. Best skiing is being found on sheltered north aspects where the snowpack is still dry.

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.