Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2026–Mar 22nd, 2026

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 and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Avoid all avalanche terrain at all elevations.

Natural avalanche cycle ongoing.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

A widepsread avalanche cycle is on going with many areas running full path to the end of there historical runouts. Fracture lines as long as 800m were observed on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Rain soaked snow below 2100m that is likely isothermal in some thinner areas. As you climb above 2000m the upper snowpack is moist in the top 40cm with dry snow underneath. In alpine areas, we suspect the recent snow of up to 40cm is still dry but field teams did not go into this area. Moderate to strong westerly winds are creating new windslabs in open areas and a few settlements were heard by forecasters while travelling in treeline areas. The march crust down 50-80cm has also been active in snowpack tests on solar aspects over the past few field days.

Avoid all avalanche terrain at this time

Weather Summary

High freezing levels around 2300m with light rain below this elevation and up to 15cm of snow above. Winds will be in the strong range out of the West. Is it unlikely there will be any refreeze of the snowpack overnight at lower elevations.

All in all warm temps, new snow and rain, and strong winds. A good time to continue to avoid avalanche terrain.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
Avoid runout zones of large avalanche paths. Avalanches are expected to run to valley bottom.
Wet avalanche activity may step down to deeply buried persistent weak layers at lower elevations.

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.

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.