Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 5th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Carefully assess conditions as you move through the mountains
We expect solar input and warming will increase avalanche activity. We have uncertainty in size of avalanches that may occur
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Since the warm weekend, wet loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed.
No persistent slab avalanche activity has been observed since over a week ago in the Manning area.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20 cm of new snow has fallen over a crust on all aspects and elevations. Beneath, 10 to 20 cm of snow is sandwiched between the surface and another crust.
The snow surface will likely become moist during the day on all aspects and elevations except for high north facing slopes.
A weak layer of facets and/or surface hoar is buried 50 to 120 cm deep. This layer has not produced avalanche activity for over a week but snowpack test results continued to show results, particularly in the Manning area.
A crust from December, buried 1 to 2 m deep, has been observed to be breaking down.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C, potential for inversion with colder temperatures at valley bottom.
Thursday
Mostly Sunny. 15 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.
Friday
Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 mm of mixed precipitation. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs could become more sensitive to rider triggering throughout the day due to solar input.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Over a week ago, large avalanches were observed on a buried weak layer. This layer continues to produce results in snowpack tests, indicating a lingering possibility of triggering.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches will increase in likelihood throughout the day with rising freezing level and solar input. These avalanches are unlikely on high north facing terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 6th, 2025 4:00PM
