Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 11th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Parks Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Now is the time to avoid being on or below avalanche terrain. Remote triggering slopes from below or nearby is likely. Very conservative decision making is required in the back-country.
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
The road patrol on Highway 93 North showed evidence of a widespread natural cycle up to size 3.5 on all aspects and elevations. Large propagations (some were 600 m wide) with fractures stepping down to the mid and lower pack were observed. Touchy conditions continue with remote triggering on the persistent layers likely.
Ski hills report numerous natural and explosive triggered avalanches to size 2.5.
Snowpack Summary
The recent storm dropped 25 cm (in Kootenay & Sunshine), 50 cm (Lake Louise), and 75+cm (Bow Summit). Strong southerly wind redistributed this snow creating slabs over suncrusts on steep south aspects or firm wind affected snow elsewhere. A persistent weak facet layer (Feb22/Jan 30 layer) is buried 40-100cm down.
In shallower eastern regions, the mid and lower snowpack is very weak with facets, while deeper western regions are more consolidated.
Weather Summary
Scattered flurries and light to moderate SW winds along the divide Tuesday night and Wednesday. On Wednesday night, another system arrives lasting into Thursday bringing another 10-30 cm with light to moderate SW wind.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
Problems
Storm Slabs
25-75 cm of storm snow since Saturday, and strong southerly winds, have created storm and wind slabs at all elevations. Greater amounts of snow fell in the northern forecast area (Bow Summit).
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
In many areas the storm snow has overloaded the persistent layers in the mid and and lower pack, resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 12th, 2025 4:00PM
