Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 28th, 2025–Mar 3rd, 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 avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

High freezing level over the weekend will continue to cause avalanche danger to remain elevated. Special Public Avalanche Warning in effect.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Continued natural avalanche activity on all aspects up to sz 2. Mainly failing on the Jan 30th interface but also stepping down to ground in lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

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.

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

See table. Note high freezing levels.

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.

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.

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.