Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 22nd, 2024–Apr 23rd, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

We are almost in to the full spring cycle, start early end early and monitor the frozen surface which you walk on and under.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Nothing was seen or reported today.

Snowpack Summary

Some new snow will help refresh the skiing. Solar aspects will have a melt freeze crust to mountain top and North aspects are well settled. There may be some fresh windslabs from the recent intense winds on Sunday, so caution when transitioning into wind affected terrain. Remember the bottom of the snowpack is weak, faceted and full of depth hoar, this will remain with us until it melts away.

Weather Summary

Tuesday will be a nice sunny day with cloudy periods. A reasonable overnight freeze of -4° with day time highs of 0° and light winds out of the SW.

Freezing levels to rise to 2600m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

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.

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.