Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 2nd, 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
A search for dry snow after the warmup will steer you toward terrain where persistent slabs are still a concern. Keep up the conservative terrain selection on a day of snowpack reassessment.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A natural size 3 was seen on Evening Ridge Saturday. It started as a slab on the late-January weak layer and scrubbed to ground as it entrained heavy, moist snow in the track.
Explosives control in Ymir Bowl produced a size 3 persistent slab on a northwest-facing feature at 2100 m Friday.
These avalanches fit a pattern of recent activity in the size 2 to 3.5 range running on the late January crust.
Wet loose and wet slabs were also controlled or ran naturally on Friday and Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
A melt-freeze crust or moist snow likely makes up the surface on all but high elevation north aspects. The evolving surface tops the upper part of 30 to 50 cm of snow from last week, which was wind affected at higher elevations and may overlie faceted snow or surface hoar where sheltered.
Two other key weak layers are present in the mid snowpack: a surface hoar or thin crust from mid-February buried 40-60 cm deep, and faceted snow/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 60-90 cm deep. These layers were active during the warmup but should become less triggerable as the snowpack cools and surface crusts strengthen.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Increasing cloud. 20 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to 1700 m. Treeline temperature 6 °C.
Monday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries or light rain below 1700 m. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1800 m. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with continuing scattered flurries adding up to 5 - 10 cm of new snow above 1700 m. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1700 m. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.
Wednesday
Becoming sunny after up to 5 cm of new snow overnight. 5 to 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1600 m. Treeline temperatures around -1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers exist below the most recent storm snow and up to about 90 cm deep. They were active during the warmup and remain a concern where strong surface crusts haven't formed.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Small wind slabs may form in open terrain at higher elevations as light new snow accumulates.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2025 4:00PM
