Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2025–Mar 3rd, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Colder temperatures overnight should help "lock" the snowpack in, where previously moist or wet from solar and or high freezing levels. The quality of the freeze is critical to monitor if traveling in avalanche terrain at the moment. Start early plan to finish early, check weather stations for temperatures and adjust once in the field if conditions aren't what you expected.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A road patrol along the spray during the heat of the day was cut short by a call. +10 at 2300m and solar slopes continue to go through a natural cycle.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels climbed to 2800m 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 above 2800m.

Monday: Cooler temps seem to be coming with a day time high of -8. Mainly cloudy and snow throughout the day. (6cm) Winds out of the East at 15km/h

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Triggering deep layers is more likely if the snow surface didn't freeze overnight.
Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

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.