Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2025–Mar 28th, 2025

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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 and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

We have more questions than answers right now. An uncertain snowpack coupled with questionable forecasts make it difficult to accurately predict the hazard. Err on the side of caution and continue to avoid avalanche terrain until this storm passes.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Natural activity continued today with several large avalanches heard through the could. Unsure on sizes, but expect in the sz3 3.5 range.

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow 2300 on all aspects today. Little re-freeze last night allowed the warmth to sink in a little deeper and start to effect the deeper layers. Lights snow began this afternoon as the next storm arrives. There wasn't a significant amount yet, but hopefully this will stick to the existing warm snow and form a good bond. Time will tell.

Weather Summary

The forecasted storm has had a slow start today, and will continue to lightly dust us with snow for most of tomorrow. The main pulse has been pushed back to Friday night with overall storm totals in the neighborhood of 35cm by Saturday night. Temperatures will drop overnight tonight and settle at -7 by Friday morning. Daytime high of zero degrees. Peak height wind speeds will be random out of the South, with lower elevations blowing out of the east for part of the day. Very unsettled pattern at the moment.

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.