Canadian Rockies Daily Snow

Short Term Forecast

Friday: Widespread flurries at Sunshine and Louise with another 2 to 5 cm likely by last chair. Sunny skies at Marmot in the morning with increasing afternoon clouds but no precipitation. High temps across the alpine at 2500m will reach -5 C at Sunshine and Louise with -7C at Marmot. Light SW winds.

Saturday: Overnight Friday, sporadic snow showers could bring anywhere from 5 to 15 cm by morning at Sunshine and Louise. East facing slopes will be favored for higher amounts due to favorable upsloping wind conditions. For Saturday, look for off and on periods of snow that could add another 3 to 5 cm at Louise and Sunshine by last chair. For Marmot, clouds with occasional flurries with a trace possible. Highs at 2500m of -4C at Sunshine and LL to -6C at Marmot. Morning west winds to 40 kph will change over to light SE winds by noon.

Sunday: Overnight Saturday another pulse of energy moving over the Divide across the south Rockies could bring some residual light snow to Sunshine and perhaps Louise with 3 to 5 cm possible by first chair Sunday morning. For Sunday, morning flurries at Louise and Sunshine with trace amounts will transition to a mix of cloudy skies with sunny spells into the afternoon hours. Up north at Marmot, a mix of sun and clouds. Highs of -3 to -5C across the high country at 2500m. Light winds increasing by afternoon out of the NW at 40 to 60 kph across the ridgetops.

Monday: Weak high-pressure builds into the Rockies bringing a mix of sun and clouds with even a few flurries possible. Slightly warmer daytime temperatures, with highs of 0 to -3C across the alpine at 2500m. Breezy with ridgetop winds blowing up to 50 kph.  

Below: Euro ensemble brings a bullish sense to the forecast but shows an ever constant supply of light precipitation moving in from BC over the next week.

Extended Forecast

Peering ahead for the period Tuesday through Friday it appears the spring like pattern of unsettled skies will continue. Look for mainly cloudy skies with bouts of flurries on Tuesday and Thursday. By Friday afternoon, an approaching cold front will bring light snow that could continue through Friday night. Too early for confident snowfall predictions but measurable snow does look likely. Daytime temperatures will be slightly warmer but right about average for late April.

With the 20/21 season winding down, I will be posting one Alberta Daily Snow discussion per week on Friday mornings. Thanks for reading – be safe and enjoy the tail end of this snowy 20/21 season.

+ Powder Out +

Bob

Announcements

Alberta Rockies Ski Resorts & Areas / North & South “Regions” are solely for Geographic References in my forecasts…

 North Region:

Banff /Sunshine Village – OPEN daily / Closing 24th May 

Mt Norquay _ OPEN / BONUS weekends April 24/25 & May 1/2 

Lake Louise Ski Resort – OPEN daily / Closing 2nd May

Marmot Basin – OPEN daily / Closing 2nd May

 South Region:

Castle Mountain – CLOSED  / Closing 11th April

Fortress (KPOW Cat Skiing)  - Please check website

Nakiska – OPEN -  BONUS weekend closes April 25th 

Pass Powderkeg – CLOSED for Season  

NEW: Avalanche Forecasts

Many folks have requested this over the past year and we're excited to now show avalanche forecasts for regions across North America. 

You can use our map view to see a quick overview of the avalanche forecast conditions and you can also go back in time for the last 7 days to see how the avalanche conditions have changed by using the slider at the bottom of the map.

Also, we integrated the avalanche forecast into each mountain location page under a new tab called "Avalanche Forecast". 

The avalanche forecasts are freely available and are the foundation of any backcountry experience. Please check these forecasts each time you head out of controlled terrain! 

You can view the avalanche forecasts right now on our website and they will be live on our iPhone and Android apps very soon.