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Avalanche Forecast

Mar 12th, 2025–Mar 13th, 2025
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: East Kakwa, Kakwa, McBride, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Sugarbowl, Tumbler.

Recent storm snow may take a bit more time to stabilize. Be particularly wary if your local area has more than 20 cm of new snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Tuesday saw a few small to large (size 1 to 2) wind slab avalanches out of steep alpine terrain. Otherwise, there was evidence of similar avalanche activity from the weekend's storm.

Snowpack Summary

New snow with strong easterly wind is forecast for Wednesday night. The snow will build on the 30 to 60 cm of accumulated snow since Saturday. All this snow overlies a hard melt-freeze crust and perhaps isolated surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered treeline terrain. The snow may be deeper and touchier in wind-exposed lee features.

A weak layer of surface hoar and/or faceted grains buried mid-February is around 50 to 100 cm deep, but is showing signs of strengthening.

The lower snowpack is well-settled.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow and local amounts of up to 20 cm possible. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

All the recent snow may take a bit more time to stabilize. This is particularly true where it overlies weak surface hoar crystals and in wind-exposed terrain near ridges.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5