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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 19th, 2025–Mar 20th, 2025
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Stormy weather returns !

Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.

Uncertainty is due to how buried persistent weak layers will react to the new load.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Persistent activity was reported Tuesday, with cornice fall triggering a large slab (size 2.5- 3) on an easterly alpine slope. A rider-triggered slab (size 2) was also triggered from steep, shallow, rocky southeasterly alpine slope. Both avalanches had crowns of 60 to 100 cm.

Small sluffs were triggered by riders on steep northerly slopes, producing loose dry avalanches on Monday.

Thanks for sharing your observations via the MIN if you are going out into the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 40 cm of new snow is expected by Thursday afternoon, forming touchy storm slabs. This overlies wind-affected snow in lee terrain at upper elevations and moist, heavy snow or a melt-freeze crust on southerly slopes, especially at lower elevations. This sits over 120 to 175 cm of settling storm snow from the past week.

Under it, a weak layer formed in early March that consists of a crust on all aspects except high north-facing slopes and facets or surface hoar in some areas. Weak layers formed in mid-February and late January are now buried 150 to 250 cm deep.

Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 15 to 20 cm of new snow. 50 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 15 to 30 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

New snow and wind will create fresh and reactive slabs, especially on lee terrain features. Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

A weak layer from early March is now 120 to 175 cm deep with January and February layers buried 150 to 250 cm. There's still uncertainty about how the weak layers will react to the new load.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 4