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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 31st, 2025–Apr 1st, 2025

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

Regions

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

The mid-pack facet layer is still very evident and producing shears with snowpack tests. Although the natural activity on this layer has abated, skier triggered avalanches are still possible. Conservate terrain choices are still required.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported. It was an overcast day so the loose wet activity that was reported on Sunday was not as big of a factor as it was on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of settled storm snow (since Friday) overlays the March 27 rain/temp crust which extends up to 2400m. Surface sun crust exist on solar aspects up to ridgetops and temperature crusts exist at lower elevations on polar aspects. The midpack consists of a 50-100cm dense one finger slab which sits over a persistent weak layer of facets from Jan/Feb. In most areas this facet layer extends to the ground.

Weather Summary

Unsettled conditions forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday bringing isolated flurries with accumulations up to 10 cm along the divide. A ridge of high pressure builds on Thursday brings clearing and a drying trend.

Winds will be light and freezing levels forecast to be around 1900m on Tuesday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Give the new snow several days to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.