Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 6th, 2025 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Dry and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Parks Canada, Avalanche Canada

The more solar input and warming that occurs, the more the hazard will increase. Avoid areas with a shallow snowpack.

Mt. Bourgeau and Eagle Mountain avalanche closure zones are CLOSED on Friday, March 7th, 2025.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

LL ski hill was reporting several solar triggered dry loose and a few small explosives triggered windslabs in steep alpine terrain. These were soft and isolated and mostly running as loose dry avalanches.

No other avalanches were observed or reported on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

On the surface, low density snow exists on shaded aspects and crusts / moist snow on solar aspects. A persistent weak layer of facets (Feb. 22nd /Jan 30th layer) exists 20-50cm below the surface. Below this, the snowpack consists of a faceted mid-pack with basal facets at the bottom. The snowpack is variable in strength and depth depending on location, with average treeline snow depths ranging from ~ 75 cm in the east to ~150cm + in the west.

Weather Summary

Friday will be another clear day, starting cold with freezing levels rising to ~ 1600m in the afternoon. Mountain top winds will pick up to moderate to strong from the W/NW.

A system is approaching on Saturday that will bring some snow by midday. We are expecting ~ 5 cm on Saturday and another ~ 10-20 cm on Sunday with valley bottom freezing levels and strong to extreme SW winds.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Problems

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

10-20cm of low density snow sits over solar and melt freeze crusts or hard windslabs. With increased warming and solar radiation on Friday, the likelihood of dry and wet loose avalanches will increase. If triggered, expect them to run further than normal due to the hard surfaces underneath.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Numerous natural avalanches have been observed on these layers over the past week, particularly in shallow facetted areas on the the eastside of highway 93N.

We suspect this layer to be most reactive on northerly aspects that have not had solar crusts from the recent warm temperatures and sun.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2025 4:00PM

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