Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

On Wednesday, two small (size 1) wind slabs were human-triggered at treeline on a northeast aspect. On Tuesday one size 1 slab avalanche was triggered by a skier on a northeast aspect in the alpine. Two size 1 slabs and one very large (size 3) avalanche were triggered by explosive control work. On Monday a size 3 natural avalanche was reported near Valemount.

Expect to find reactive slabs where more than 20 cm of new snow is found.

Up to 30 to 60 cm of snow has fallen since Monday. This new snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes.

Three persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets are found in the middle of the snowpack. The early March layer is between 60 and 120 cm down. The mid-February layer is between 70 and 150 cm deep and a layer from late January is down 150 cm. In lower elevations, these layers sit over a crust.

Below this, the snowpack is well settled.

Thursday night

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

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