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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2025–Mar 17th, 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 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

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

The snowpack remains untrustworthy and highly unstable, with human-triggered avalanches likely. After a week of widespread natural avalanches, the potential for more natural activity lingers. This is a time for strict terrain discipline.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche accident Friday, outside of Lake Louise Ski Area Boundary. A size 2.5 avalanche was triggered and failed on the deep persistent layer at the ground. Today, Lake Louise patrol reported a size 1.5 deep persistent slab below treeline. Sunshine patrol reported triggering a reloaded alpine feature with explosives, size 2.5.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of new snow overnight by Sun morning. Since Mar 8, 40 to 70 cm of settled storm snow has accumulated, with the deepest amounts found in the Bow Summit area, along the Wapta, and Little Yoho. As time goes on, the storm snow will settle into slabs.

A persistent weak layer (Feb 22/Jan 30 facets) is buried 50-100 cm. In shallower eastern areas, the mid/lower snowpack is very weak with facets and depth hoar, while deeper western areas are more consolidated. Takakkaw Profile.

Weather Summary

Slightly cooler than seasonal temperatures, with valley lows just below zero and ridge-top temperatures as cold as -15°C. Expect convective flurries and intermittent snow showers on Monday, with minimal accumulation. Winds will be moderate from the west.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all 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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.