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 Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Conditions remain primed for human triggering, and a conservative mindset remains critical. Use extra caution around sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the afternoon.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, ski cutting resulted in a size 1.5 slab failing on the mid-February weak layer down 70 cm. Several small wet loose avalanches were observed at lower elevations.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the stormy conditions resulted in a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3. Many of these avalanches have been reported as wind, storm and persistent slabs at upper elevations and wet loose at lower elevations.
Conditions remain primed for human triggering on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
Over the past few days, strong southerly winds and up to 60 cm of new snow hit the region. Wind-transported snow has likely built deeper slabs on northerly aspects at upper elevations. Lower elevation snow may be crusty as freezing levels fall.
The upper metre of the snowpack is complicated. This snow sits above several significant weak layers that formed during the January and February dry spells. These include facets, surface hoar (in sheltered terrain), and crust on solar aspects. These layers are currently reactive.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December varies in depth from 100 to 300 cm. This layer appears to be dormant but remains an isolated concern in this region.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.. Freezing level 800 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.Freezing level 1100 m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -4. Freezing level 900 m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -4. Freezing level 900 m.
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.
- Conservative terrain selection is critical; choose gentle, low consequence lines.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
- Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs sit on a weak interface and are are expected to be reactive to human triggering. Deeper deposits of wind-transported snow may exist in leeward and cross-loaded terrain, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers in the upper snowpack remain reactive and may produce large avalanches.
A deeply buried weak layer from December remains an isolated concern, and the potential for smaller avalanches to step down to this layer still exists.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2025 4:00PM
