Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 23rd, 2025–Nov 24th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Early Season

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Early Season

Below Treeline

Early Season

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Early Season

Below Treeline

Early Season

Regions

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

A 8:30am Forecast to adjust the Danger rating. Alpine increased to MOD and treeline at LOW. Roughly 20+ cm at highwood and lesser amounts along the spray.

The alpine is the only zone with a meaningful snowpack right now. If you venture up high, be on the look for wind slabs along ridgelines and in gullied features. Cooler temperatures should also encourage more ice to form in the coming days!

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations in our region today, But overall poor visibility.

A couple close calls in couloirs in the Banff area. See Avalanche Canada Min page for more details.

Snowpack Summary

Flurries Saturday evening and Sunday has dusted the region. Sunday night into Monday should see steady flurries continue with lighter winds. This new bit of snow is laying on a variety of crusts from various events. Any new snow will slide easily on this crusty interface. Wind slabs are still the dominant problem in alpine areas. Ridgelines, gullies and cross-loaded features are areas to pay close attention to as you move higher in the terrain.

Treeline and below is still pretty shallow for snow. Its a long season, so think about your knees!

Weather Summary

Flurries continue through Sunday evening with up to 10cm possible by Morning morning. Light winds overall from the SW.

Of note, Monday will be a steady descent into the first colder temperatures of the season.

https://hpfx.collab.science.gc.ca/~fsg006/productviewer/ab/table/AB_Rockies_Forecast.html

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Ice climbers should be equipped with avalanche safety gear.
Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.