Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 9th, 2025 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

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New snow and southwest winds will build fresh, touchy wind slabs.

Assess bond of new snow to underlying surfaces, weak layers exist below.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent warm weather has caused some cornices to fall. These falls have not triggered any avalanches on the slopes below.

Looking forward: Avalanches on buried weak layers may be difficult to trigger, but if one is triggered, it is likely to be large and destructive.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack is currently quite variable. New snow falls on a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar or facets in sheltered areas or north aspects. The new snow is being wind redistributed by moderate southwest winds into fresh wind slabs.

Two concerning weak layers are present in the mid snowpack: facets/surface hoar or a crust from mid-February buried 30-70 cm, and facet/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 60-100 cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mainly cloudy, with up to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud, with scattered flurries. 10 to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Tuesday

Mainly cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Wednesday

Mainly cloudy with up to 8 cm of snow. 10 to 35 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow arrives with moderate to strong southwest wind. Surface hoar and facets exists beneath the new snow at higher and in sheltered locations.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Weak layers exist 40 to 100 cm deep. These layers remain a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust under the recent snow.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Mar 10th, 2025 4:00PM

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