Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 3rd, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Recent avalanche activity indicates the persistent weak layer remains triggerable.
Be especially cautious on high northerly slopes, and on sunny slopes during warming.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Sun: A few persistent and loose wet releases size 1-2, with both human and natural triggers occurred.
Sat: Many natural, remote, and explosives-triggered slabs failed on the late-Jan layer, fitting a pattern of recent persistent activity, generally from size 2-3 at upper elevations.
Fri: A skier was caught in a size 1.5 and partially buried.
Wed: Size 2 - 3 deep persistent slabs were explosive-triggered, showing the basal snowpack reacting to large triggers.
Snowpack Summary
A trace to 10 cm of new snow from Monday has buried a melt-freeze crust which previously made up the surface on solar aspects and on all aspects below 1800 m. Wind-affected but dry snow still remains on high northerly slopes. A couple of weak layers consisting of a crust, facets or surface hoar from February and January remain a concern, buried 30 to 60 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets from early December is buried 70 to 120 cm. In many areas, facets or depth hoar exist at the base of the snowpack. These layers, particularly the late-January layer, remain a primary concern at upper elevations where strong surface crusts are absent.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Partly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1600 m dropping to valley bottom. Treeline temperature dropping to -7 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m. Treeline temperature around -4 °C.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 5 to 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m, treeline temperature around -4 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 5 to 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1700 m. Treeline temperature around -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Several active persistent weak layers exist, with the most problematic ones lying 30 to 60 cm deep. These layers were particularily reactive during the warmup, and remain a concern where thick, supportive surface crusts didn't form.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Watch for small, newly formed and reactive wind slabs if you move into wind-affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Back off slopes if the surface becomes wet with rising temperatures. Loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 4th, 2025 4:00PM
