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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 10th, 2025–Mar 11th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Now is the time to avoid being on or below avalanche terrain. Very conservative decision making is required in the back-country OR riders can more safely enjoy the powder at the local ski resorts.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A road patrol on Highway 93 North showed evidence of a widespread natural cycle up to size 3.5 on all aspects and elevations. Large propagations with fractures stepping down to the mid and lower pack were observed.

Skihills reported numerous natural and explosive triggered avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm amounts range from 25 cm (in Kootenay) to 75+cm at Bow Summit. This snow has been redistributed by strong southerly winds and sits over suncrusts on steep south aspects and firm wind affected snow elsewhere. A persistent layer of weak facets (Feb22/Jan 30 layer) is now buried down 40-100cm.

In shallower eastern regions, the mid and lower snowpack is mostly facets, while deeper western regions are more consolidated. Treeline snow depths range from 90-180 cm.

Weather Summary

A Pacific frontal system will track into southern BC on Tuesday. This will bring scattered flurries and moderate SW winds along the divide for Tuesday and Wednesday. A more organised system is forecast to bring 10-15 cm of new snow on Thursday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Avoid the runout zones of avalanche paths. Avalanches could run full path.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.