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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2025–Mar 6th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Avoid north-facing alpine and treeline slopes, as this is where triggering persistent weak layers is most likely.

Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a few small wet loose avalanches were reported at low elevations.

Last week, several natural and rider-triggered wind slab and persistent slab avalanches were reported, up to size 2.5. These avalanches have mainly occurred in north-to-east facing alpine and treeline terrain.

Although no recent avalanche activity has been reported on this layer, it remains reactive in test pits, and professionals in the region are still concerned about it.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5 cm of snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on all aspects to 1600 m. Previous strong southwest wind built stiff wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline.

A weak layer of surface hoar or facets is found 20 to 50 cm down in many areas. A second weak layer buried 60 to 90 cm consists of surface hoar, facets. and/or a hard crust. These persistent layers remain a concern, with the potential for large step-down avalanches.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.