Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2025–Feb 20th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Good skiing exists in areas that have been sheltered from the wind.

Quite a bit of variability exists in the upper snowpack with different layers of wind slabs, crusts and facets. Be diligent about assessing each individual slope.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A naturally triggered size 2 wind slab was observed at Bald Hills.

Numerous Loose dry avalanches on solar aspects have occurred recently.

There was a size 1 wind slab skier accidental reported on the back side of Parkers Ridge on the 14th. Check out the MIN on the main map for more information.

Marmot Basin was able to produce a size 2 cornice triggered avalanche with explosives on the 14th where the cornice chunks entrained loose dry snow.

Snowpack Summary

There is widespread surface hoar where there has been no wind. The Icefields has seen extensive wind effect even into treeline while the Bald hills have had noticeably less. In sheltered areas there is roughly 15cm of snow overlying the January 30th layer which is a temperature crust or wind slab depending on the area. The midpack is weak and faceted. The bottom of the snowpack is comprised of large depth hoar and the early season crusts have all but broken down.

Weather Summary

Wednesday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15-30 km/h.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -6 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.