Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2024–Apr 11th, 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, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

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

Recent snow and strong wind have formed wind slabs on lee features in the alpine.

The good skiing on high north aspects also happens to be where the Feb 3 PWL is most likely to be triggered.

Make a careful assessment for both problems before committing to a slope.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A size 2 Deep Persistent Slab was observed on the NW bowl of Andromeda, pulling a slab to ice above the bergschrund.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of recent snow has been redistributed by South to SW winds in the Alpine. Solar slopes and all aspects at tree line and below have a plethora of crusts in the upper snow pack. The Feb 3 PWL is down 40-100cm and remains a concern on shaded aspects above 2400m. The basal depth hoar/facets are gaining strength in deeper snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada

Thursday

Cloudy with scattered flurries (4 cm). Wind southwest: 15-35km/h. Freezing level 2100m.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35km/h. Freezing level 2100m.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Wind west: 15km/h gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level 2000m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.