Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2025–Mar 27th, 2025

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 avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Widespread avalanche activity today in the region. Expect this activity to continue tomorrow due a lack of re-freeze and high freezing levels. We are also expecting another storm to come through later this week. Hazard will remain at high while this storm plays out. Best to avoid avalanche terrain all together for the next few days.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Widespread activity up to sz3 today.

Snowpack Summary

Very warm temperatures today will leave a crust on all but true north. We hit 9° at Burstall Pass today. The upper snowpack will also have settled considerably from the heat. Unfortunately this heat hasn't done anything to the deeper layers. Overall there's been little change to the snowpack characteristic on the whole.

Weather Summary

Thursday will be another day of warm temperatures with little re-freeze overnight. A daytime high of +4° is expected, however keep in mind that we beat Wed's predicted high by 3 degrees. Winds will be light and gusty from the south, with a very late day wind switch to the east. As for snow, we are expecting a significant snow storm starting tomorrow that corresponds to the shift in winds.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.