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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2026–Mar 18th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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.

Regions

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

Tuesday will be the start of a warm wet weather pattern. An increase in wind, precip, both rain and snow and warming temps will elevate the avalanche conditions at all elevations for different reasons. Wind slab development at higher elevations where the temperatures remain cool and wet loose activity lower down where the temperature is rising and a higher likelihood of rain.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

One notable Skier accidental on Mt. Engadine. Was reported to KMR 3rd hand, field teams went and checked out the area today. Looks like the skier was caught and rode the avalanche a long ways. Lost gear and post holed out to highway. This seems to have triggered a windslab in the high treeline/ alpine NW aspect,

Otherwise no new avalanche activity observed today.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has settled to about 40cm at treeline with a total snow depth of 210-245cm. Mush less on the east side of the spray, averaging 130cm at tree line. The march 7th crust is down 30-50 cm and seems to be mostly an issue on solar aspects. In test results we are getting moderate Sudden planar results below the crust on small facets. The Feb 14th is still noticeable down about 110cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday: A low is pushing South and bringing warm air and precip. Snow and rain. Winds are expected to be strong to extreme out of the West. Increasing to well over 100km/h Tuesday evening. Temps will hover around -2 with freezing levels rising to 2200m. "Flurries" all day.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use extra caution for areas that are experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Avoid slopes that sound hollow or drum-like.

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 Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.