Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2025–Mar 25th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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 avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

The spaw is no longer in effect for the region. This by no way means that things are better out there!

As the warm front approaches, freezing levels will rise, the sun will poke out and danger ratings will remain elevated.

Human triggered avalanches remain likely and a conservative mindset is key to getting out in the mountain at the moment.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

First things first. The amount of MINS that are getting submitted with great information regarding avalanche activity and snow conditions has been great to see, so thank you!

Field teams out in Burstall pass today noted two new Size 2 windslabs on NE aspects at treeline elevations. These did not run all that far, but were crisp and had most likely happened this morning. It was snowing hard all day up there with temps hovering around 0°.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack up to 2400m was moist in the afternoon today, If the temps cool off enough overnight there will be a wide spread crust on all aspects up to that elevation. The upper snowpack continues to settle, bond and strengthen. The warm temps and continuous snow makes it feel like things are improving. However don't forget the structure in which this new snow is sitting on. It is weak, faceted and can not be trusted. Snowpack tests are easily repeatable with sudden collapse results. Red flags such as whumpfs and cracking are becoming less frequent. This is due to the upper snowpack gaining height and stiffening up, thus not disturbing the weak layers below. Dig down and have a look at the lower snowpack.

Weather Summary

General weather update: Warm weather is coming with very high freezing levels. Upto 3000m on Wednesday

Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

No new snow is expected, but it is the season for convective squalls to come through the region and have rapid accumulation in short periods.

West winds 40km/h

Freezing levels to 2200m, if the sun pokes out you can expect that to increase.

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.