Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 4th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
***Updated 7:10***
Remain especially cautious on high northerly slopes & areas without a thick supportive crust under the new snow.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Sun: Several small loose wet avalanches were ski cut and one size 2 natural avalanche occurred near Castle Mtn.
Fri /Sat: Naturally triggered size 2.5 persistent slabs occurred near Castle Mtn. They ran on the persistent weak layer, approximately 50 cm deep.
Looking forward: Fresh wind slabs may be reactive and have potential to step down to deeper layers on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 15 cm of new snow is expected to fall overnight and through Wednesday. Southwesterly winds may build fresh and reactive wind slabs on lee north and easterly slopes. The new snow will be falling on a widespread melt-freeze crust that exists everywhere but high north-facing slopes. The main feature of the region's overall shallow snowpack is a persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January now buried 40 to 60 cm deep (see photo below). This layer was active during the warm-up and remains a concern where a thick and supportive crust under the new snow hasn't stabilized the snowpack.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -6 °C. Freezing level 1600 m, then falling to valley bottom.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
The persistent weak layer has produced several large to very large avalanches in recent days. It remains a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust under the new snow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
New snow and wind may be forming fresh wind slabs on lee features. Keep in mind that wind slab may step down to deeper weak layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 5th, 2025 4:00PM
