Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 25th, 2025 2:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Kananaskis, Avalanche Canada

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Stay diligent with terrain choice. Human triggered avalanches are likely. Now is the time for conservative decision making.

Summary

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

A snowstudy flight today was unfortunately obscured mostly by cloud. However there was some visibility and a wide spread avalanche cycle appears to have happened along the spray. Most crowns were mostly filled in from the recent strong to extreme winds.

Travel in avalanche terrain requires cautious route-finding and conservative decision making.

Snowpack Summary

This last storm has deposited between 10-25cm snow (10cm to the North of the Spray and 25cm near the Dogleg area). Expect another 5-10cm by Tuesday morning. The milder temperatures along with strong winds have settled most of this snow into some sort of slab at all elevations. Recent strong/extreme winds in the Alpine have most likely left some widespread wind slabs, especially in lee features and cross loaded gullies. All of this is sitting on top of the Jan 30 interface (mostly a denser layer) and then below this is all facets. The forecasters do not trust the snowpack at the moment and are staying clear of avalanche terrain.

Weather Summary

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods.

No precip expected with alpine temps at -3

West winds continue at 35km/h

Freezing levels at 1600m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Avoid steep terrain, including convex rolls, or areas with a thin, rocky, or variable snowpack.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Fresh touchy storm slabs exist in below treeline and treeline elevations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Storm snow, strong winds and warm temps are sure to build new reactive slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Feb 26th, 2025 3:00PM

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