Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Well lets be hopeful for more snow in 2025! December has been a dry month in the Kananaskis region. Any avalanche that is triggered will likely step down and involve the entire snowpack.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported or observed.
Snowpack Summary
The trace amounts of snow over the past week has added up to around 5-8cm at treeline. This snow is overlying previous 20-40cm thick windslabs that continue to settle and slowly strengthen in the seasonal temperatures we are experiencing. The Dec 7th temperature crust can be found on solar aspects up to 2500m down 30-50cm and the weak basal facets that once were the November and October crusts are close to ground. Thin areas where the basal layers could be triggered should be treated with caution. The windslabs seem easy to "feel" and locate as you approach ridgelines and col's and should also be treated with caution especially in convex or unsupported areas. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack will likely involve the entire snowpack and scrub down to ground so keep this in mind as you travel.
Weather Summary
Monday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Light wind overall. High of -10
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Windslabs in the upper snowpack are common in alpine areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
If triggered the surface wind slabs may step down to this layer and involve the entire winters snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5