Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 29th, 2024–Apr 30th, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

It may be spring down low but it is still winter-like conditions up high.

Recent snowfall has been highly variable due to the convective weather patterns. Be aware of how well the new snow is bonding to old crusts.

Read the Avalanche Canada Forecasters Blog for resources on how to navigate the switch to spring.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity reported on Monday. Nearest neighbours have been seeing dry loose & sluffing in the Alpine and wet loose at Treeline and below, all on steep terrain features. All size 1 or less.

Snowpack Summary

Sunday evening brought a good overnight refreeze all the way to valley bottom. Recent snowfall amounts vary with approx 10cm of new snow in the last few days. Recent snow has been redistributed by winds from all directions. A plethora of crusts extend up to at least 2600m, on all aspects, and to ridgetop on solar aspects.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada

Monday Evening

Flurries up to 4 cm. Alpine low -7 °C. Light winds gusting to 35 km/h. Freezing level valley bottom.

Tuesday

Cloudy with flurries. Alpine high -3 °C. Light winds from North gusting to 50 km/h. Freezing level 1900m

Wednesday

Cloudy with sunny periods & isolated flurries. Alpine low -6 °C, High -2 °C. Winds NE 15-35 km/h. Freezing level 2200 m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.