Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 3rd, 2025–Apr 6th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Ghost.

The Ghost is a snowy place with 20-40cm of snow over the past 4 days. Early starts and finishes are a good idea right now due to the strong solar influence. Not a lot of recent field information from the Ghost area so if you are headed out, please share your observations on the MIN.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new or recent observations. No reported events into the Kananaskis Region office.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of recent snow fell in the Ghost region over the past 24hrs. This snow fell with very little wind but winds are forecast to increase overnight on Thursday. A thick crust can be found in the upper snowpack that developed in late march. Recent snow over the past week has buried this crust down 30-60cm. Storm slabs and windslabs can be found in the upper snowpack that will be reactive to traffic from ice climbers. Cornices over popular routes such as the Sorcerer have also been reported as large. Clear skies and strong solar influence will allow stability to deteriorate throughout the day so pay attention to overhead terrain in the sun.

Even a small avalanche can have large consequences in steep or gullied terrain so use be thinking about that as you travel. Routes that commonly don't have avalanche hazard will be affected by this incoming storm.

Weather Summary

A cool morning with -15C forecast and winds are expected to be moderate out of the NW overnight before diminishing during the day. The freezing level will climb to 2100m and skies are forecast to be clear so pay attention to the strong solar radiation decreasing stability later in the day especially on solar aspects.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Ice climbers should be equipped with avalanche safety gear.
Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

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.