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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2025–Mar 14th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Conservative terrain selection is highly recommended.

Choose gentle, low consequence lines and avoid overhead hazard, especially during periods of sun.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

Tues/Wed: Several size 1-1.5 natural and skier-triggered storm and wind slab avalanches occurred.

Mon: A few natural and skier triggered storm slab and wind slab avalanches were reported up to size 2.5 (very large). Some of these avalanches stepped down to persistent weak layers.

Looking forward: Storm slabs are expected to remain reactive and may step down to deeper persitstent weak layers.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 40 cm of new snow fell in the last storm creating widespread and reactive storm slabs. The new snow may overload persistent weak layers in the upper to mid snowpack. There is strong potential for storm slabs to step down to these deeper layers which include:

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from early March buried 25-50 cm.

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from mid-February buried 40-90 cm

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 80-120 cm.

The rest of the snowpack is well settled with no other layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 15 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.

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.

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.