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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 25th, 2025–Feb 26th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Start on small, low angled features to assess how the recent snow is bonding.

After a dry, cold period, the snowpack may need more time than usual to adjust to the new load.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche reports have slowed down after the stormy period. However, looking forward to Wednesday, snowpack tests and remote avalanches suggest that a weak layer still exists under the recent storm snow, and is primed for human triggering.

Monday: several natural and human triggered avalanches were reported. A few were remote triggered, suggesting a touchy weak layer.

Sunday: A natural avalanche cycle (up to size 2.5) was reported on all aspects at all elevations.

Snowpack Summary

15 - 30 cm of recent snow, accompanied by strong southwest alpine winds has likely created deep deposits of new snow and fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.

This recent snow has buried wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain, or surface hoar, and a faceted upper snowpack in sheltered areas. Layers formed during dry conditions in January are buried approximately 30 to 100 cm below the surface. These consist of surface hoar, faceted grains, and/or a hard crust, and are a likely source of instability with the addition of the new snow and warming temperatures.

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 4 cm of snow, possibly more around Pine Pass. Possibly sunny in the afternoon. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m or higher by the end of the day.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, possibly none on the east slopes of the Rockies. 40 to 65 km/h southwest ridgetop wind on the west side of the region, 10 to 25 km/h on the east side. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom overnight and back up to 1500 m through the day.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.

Problems

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.