Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 1 – 4, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will be lower in the morning with the cooler temps and then increase towards HIGH throughout the day as temperatures warm up. Quality of freeze overnight is a critical to evaluate. Check weather stations before you begin your planned trip. Plan to be done early avoiding the heat of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Wind slab are continuing to grow and are reactive.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Recent snow and warm temps have formed a "settlement slab" at lower elevations failing on the Jan 30th interface . This slab sits on a very thick layer of weak facets, and is prone to human triggering.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Watch for loose wet avalanches out of steeper terrain as the day warms. These may also initiate the windslab/persistent slab problem on underlying slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

With the high freezing level and clear skies natural avalanche activity was observed along S and E aspects up to sz 2 with some slides initiating in alpine terrain and running full path as fingers below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels climbed to 2600m on Saturday under clear skies. All S, E and N aspects have wind slabs at Alpine and Treeline elevations which rest on the Jan 30th interface made up of facets, sun crust or a dense slab layer. In lower elevations the snowpack has settled into a persistent slab overlying the weak January layers. All elevations show snowpack conditions that are sensitive to human triggering. Travelling at lower elevations involves ski penetration to ground if you leave any established trail. An isothermal snowpack can also be found in lower elevations in open sunny terrain.

You take all this and then add a high freezing level and sunny skies. You now have conditions that are even more prime for human triggering of avalanches.

Click here for more info: https://avalanche.ca/spaw/96cc7f76-2ee1-417f-ac03-afe25836da22

Weather Summary

Another warm day with light winds, clear skies and a freezing level forecast to be around 2800m. No new snow is forecast until next Monday when 5-10cm is expected.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid the runout zones of avalanche paths. Avalanches could run full path.
  • Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
  • Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.
  • Triggering deep layers is more likely if the snow surface didn't freeze overnight.

Regions covered