Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2025–Mar 26th, 2025

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

The spaw is no longer in effect for the region. This by no way means that things are better out there!

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

High freezing levels, minimal to no overnight recovery, means that the avalanche danger rating has been bumped to HIGH as the snowpack, which is already very fragile is tested.

Stay clear of avalanche terrain until the temperatures cool off and the snowpack has time to settle.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No field teams in the Kananaskis region today.

One would suspect some level of natural activity today with the warm temps (+6 @ Burstall pass at 1300).

Snowpack Summary

With the moist snow that was observed yesterday, there was a fresh melt freeze crust this morning up to 2400m. This would have broken down pretty quickly in the morning and the upper snowpack is moist again and possibly several hundred meters higher. The upper snowpack continues to settle, bond and strengthen with warm temps and intermittent snow. However don't forget the structure in which this new snow is sitting on. It is weak, faceted and can not be trusted. Snowpack tests are easily repeatable with sudden collapse results. Red flags such as whumpfs and cracking are becoming less frequent. This is due to the upper snowpack gaining height and stiffening up, thus not disturbing the weak layers below. Dig down and have a look at the lower snowpack.

Weather Summary

Wednesday:

Cloudy with sunny periods, No precip expected.

Winds will be generally light out of the Southwest.

What is worth mentioning is the rising temperatures and rising freezing levels.

Wednesdays freezing levels currently are forecasted for 2400m.

Thursday: Freezing levels rise even further to 2700m with the possibility of thunder showers and 12 cm of some sort of precipitation rain/sleet/wet snow.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Problems

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.

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.