Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 31st, 2026–Apr 1st, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Polar aspects are still holding cold snow and providing good skiing. The sun has come out in the last 2 days, so expect crusts or moist snow on solar aspects that are lower elevation.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported today.

Snowpack Summary

The forecast team went up the Robertson glacier today up to 2900m. The snowpack on the glacier was on average 300cm of pencil hard snow. Wind slabs were growing a bit today with the moderate to strong South winds up high.

In most of our forecast area, the March 24 crust can be found up to 2450m with an average of 20-40cm on top of it with the interface being facets.

Weather Summary

Wednesday will bring of mix of sun and cloud in the morning with flurries developping in late afternoon. The morning will start off at a cool -13c and warm up to -1c. Winds will be in the 30km/hr range from the South with an expected freezing level of 2000m.

Flurries/snow expected Thursday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

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.