Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 15th, 2022–Apr 16th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies.

Weather and avalanche forecasts are conducive for great mountain adventures, but be wary of pockets of wind slabs and cornices. Heading into the backcountry this weekend ? Please consider filling out a MIN to report local conditions ! 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Not much change as the broad upper trough is still in place. Cool and unstable conditions, combined with daytime heating, will likely give scattered flurries across the southern part of the province. Warmer and closer to seasonal temperatures will arrive on Sunday and Monday.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy skies / scattered flurries / light variable wind / treeline low around -10 C / freezing level to valley bottom.

SATURDAY: Mainly sunny with increasing cloudiness late afternoon / easterly wind increasing to 20-40 km/h / treeline high of -5 C / freezing level rising to 1500 m / overnight localized accumulations 5-10 cm with freezing level returning to valley bottom.

SUNDAY: Partially cloudy / localized snow accumulations 3-5 cm / light to moderate southwest wind / treeline high around -3 C / freezing level rising to 1500 m. 

MONDAY: Mix of sun and clouds / light to moderate southerly wind / treeline high around 0C / freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Avalanche Summary

Observations are very limited this time of year. Small loose wet avalanches (size 1) were observed on steep rocky terrain features near Crowsnest due to strong solar input. Check out the South Rockies field team's MIN from Friday for pictures of current conditions ! 

Snowpack Summary

Over the past few days, eastern upslope areas of the region received light snow flurries accumulation each day from the storm system impacting the Prairies (up to 20 cm). Recent periods of strong wind from the northeast through southeast have redistributed the recent snow in exposed high elevation terrain forming small pockets of wind slabs which may still be reactive, especially in the east of the region. A widespread and supportive melt-freeze crust which formed during the major warming event on April 8 is found under the recent snow and / or wind slabs. The middle and lower snowpacks are currently well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.