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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2025–Mar 8th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

A storm bringing significant snowfall (hopefully!) arrives this weekend, increasing the load over the persistent layers down 20-50cm.

With uncertainty around the storm's track and snowfall amounts, stay alert to changing local conditions.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control along the Sunshine road on Friday produced persistent slab avalanches to size 2.5. A skier-triggered size 2.5 persistent slab was also reported on March 6 on Quartz Hill in the Sunshine backcountry. This slab averaged 50cm but was as deep as 90cm.

Snowpack Summary

On shaded aspects, low-density snow is present, while variable crusts are found on solar aspects. A persistent weak layer of facets (Feb. 22nd/Jan. 30th) lies 20-50cm below the surface, with a faceted mid-pack beneath it. In thin areas, basal facets rest at the snowpack's base. Deeper snowpack areas out West are significantly stronger. Treeline snow depths range from ~75 cm in the east to over 150 cm in the west.

Weather Summary

Uncertainty remains about the storm's track and impact.

Saturday: Western regions and Highway 93N may see 5 cm of snow, with little to none in the east. Strong alpine winds expected.

Sunday/Monday: Storm amounts could bring 25-40 cm of snow by Monday morning, mainly West of the divide, and along Highway 93N. Stay tuned.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.