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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2025–Mar 29th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Forecasted new snow amounts Friday night and Saturday are variable. The more snow we receive, the more likely the hazard will increase to High.

The past week the snowpack has seen significant inputs with rain at lower elevations, warming and lots of new snow. Give the snowpack some time to recover before stepping out.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported Friday. A widespread avalanche cycle throughout the region occurred on Wednesday and Thursday. Avalanches to size 3.5 started at all elevations and ran mainly to the tops of runouts, with some going to valley bottom.

On Wednesday an avalanche on Quartz ridge was observed taking out previous ski tracks. A notable on Thursday was the ice climb Masseys in Field, running for a second time in 2 days to the valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

5-20cm new snow overlies crusts from previous rain at treeline and below. Up to 50cm of settling snow has fallen over the past week forming 50-100 cm dense slab, that sits atop persistent weak layers of facets. In Eastern areas, facets and depth hoar extend to the ground, whereas, in thicker regions west of the divide, the layer is thinner with a more settled lower snowpack

Weather Summary

Friday night: Cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 5-10 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -7 °C. Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.

Saturday: Cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 5-15 cm. Alpine temps: High -3 °C. Ridge wind west: 10-25 km/h. Freezing level: 1700-2000m.

Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temps: Low -9 °C, High -2 °C. Ridge wind 15 km/h. Freezing level: 2100m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Give the new snow several days to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.
  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.