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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 14th, 2025–Mar 15th, 2025

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Glacier, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, Dogtooth, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold.

40 cm or more of storm snow and wind have formed reactive slabs.

Expect human triggering of avalanches to remain likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Many small to large (size 1 to 3) storm, wind slab, and cornice avalanches were either triggered naturally, by humans, or by explosives on Wednesday and Thursday. These occurred at treeline and alpine elevations primarily on north aspects. Most slabs were 50 to 80 cm deep.

Large human-triggered avalanches continue to remain likely.

Snowpack Summary

On Thursday, between 20 to 50 cm of new snow fell, accompanied by moderate southwest winds, forming new storm and wind slabs. Since last Saturday, up to 100 cm of storm snow has accumulated, sitting on a hard melt-freeze crust and surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered areas.

Weak layers of surface hoar and/or faceted grains, buried in mid-February and late January, are found 60 to 150 cm deep. This MIN report illustrates the depth and potential severity of triggering this weak layer.

The lower half of the snowpack remains strong.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with afternoon sun, 1 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

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.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

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.

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.