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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 10th, 2025–Mar 11th, 2025

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

Regions

Purcells, East Purcell, St. Mary.

Snowfall amounts are variable throughout the region.

Assess bond of new snow as you change aspect and elevation, take extra care when transitioning into wind affected terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, a skier accidentally triggered a dry loose avalanche in steep terrain at treeline that ran on the ground. This will continue to be possible in rocky or shallow areas where the new snow is likely sitting on facets near ground.

Notably, on March 6th, one person was buried in an avalanche in Pedley Pass, just east of the forecast area. See details about that avalanche and a few nearby in these MINs.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of recent new snow is being redistributed by strong southwest wind. This sits on a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar or facets in sheltered areas or north aspects.

A few weak layers consisting of a crust, facets or surface hoar from February and January remain a concern, buried 30 to 60 cm.

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 deeper layers are not currently creating an avalanche problem.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a possibility of isolated flurries. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud, with isolated flurries. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Wednesday

Mainly cloudy, with isolated flurries. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy, with up to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °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.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

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.