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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 1st, 2025–Mar 4th, 2025
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

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

Avalanche danger will be lower in the morning with the cooler temps and then increase towards HIGH throughout the day as temperatures warm up. Quality of freeze overnight is a critical to evaluate. Check weather stations before you begin your planned trip. Plan to be done early avoiding the heat of the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

With the high freezing level and clear skies natural avalanche activity was observed along S and E aspects up to sz 2 with some slides initiating in alpine terrain and running full path as fingers below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels climbed to 2600m on Saturday under clear skies. All S, E and N aspects have wind slabs at Alpine and Treeline elevations which rest on the Jan 30th interface made up of facets, sun crust or a dense slab layer. In lower elevations the snowpack has settled into a persistent slab overlying the weak January layers. All elevations show snowpack conditions that are sensitive to human triggering. Travelling at lower elevations involves ski penetration to ground if you leave any established trail. An isothermal snowpack can also be found in lower elevations in open sunny terrain.

You take all this and then add a high freezing level and sunny skies. You now have conditions that are even more prime for human triggering of avalanches.

Click here for more info: https://avalanche.ca/spaw/96cc7f76-2ee1-417f-ac03-afe25836da22

Weather Summary

Another warm day with light winds, clear skies and a freezing level forecast to be around 2800m. No new snow is forecast until next Monday when 5-10cm is expected.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid the runout zones of avalanche paths. Avalanches could run full path.
  • Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
  • Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.
  • Triggering deep layers is more likely if the snow surface didn't freeze overnight.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slab are continuing to grow and are reactive.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Loose Wet

Watch for loose wet avalanches out of steeper terrain as the day warms. These may also initiate the windslab/persistent slab problem on underlying slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

Recent snow and warm temps have formed a "settlement slab" at lower elevations failing on the Jan 30th interface . This slab sits on a very thick layer of weak facets, and is prone to human triggering.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2