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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 14th, 2025–Mar 15th, 2025
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
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
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Retallack, Rossland, Valhalla, Whatshan, Ymir.

Choose gentle, low consequence lines and avoid overhead hazard.

Check out the forecaster blog for a detailed conditions update.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Thurs: A widespread region-wide avalanche cycle of natural and human-triggered avalanches occurred, with slabs up to size 3 (very large). The majority occurred on north and east facing slopes

Tues/Wed: Several size 1-1.5 natural and skier-triggered storm and wind slab avalanches occurred.

Looking forward: Storm slabs are expected to remain reactive and may step down to deeper persitstent weak layers.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 40 cm of new snow fell in the last storm creating widespread and reactive storm slabs. Up to 10 cm of additional snow may fall on Saturday. Lower elevations and sun-affected slopes may have moist or crusty surface snow.

There is potential for the new snow to overload persistent weak layers in the upper to mid snowpack, causing storm slabs to step down to deeper layers. These include:

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from early March buried 25-50 cm.

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from mid-February buried 40-90 cm

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 80-120 cm.

The rest of the snowpack is well settled with no other layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 3 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Partly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Up to 40 cm of new snow has fallen in the region with an additional 10 cm in the forecast. Storm slabs will be especially reactive on wind-loaded northerly through easterly slopes near ridgetops.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

Several persistent weak layers exist in the upper meter of the snowpack. The greatest concern for triggering these layers lies in areas where a thick, supportive crust is absent under the new snow.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3