Avalanche forecast

Microwave-Sinclair

Mar 12 – 13, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Recent southerly winds have created fresh wind slabs in the alpine. Watch for persistent slabs to become more reactive if there is a gradual warming trend over the next few days.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Small amounts of new snow over several days and steady southerly winds continue to promote thin wind slab formation in lee terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    A buried weak layer of facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-February exists 30 to 50 cm below the snow surface A gradual rise in temperature may consolidate the overlying snow and make layer more reactive.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There has been no new avalanche activity reported in the previous few days. If you do observe an avalanche, consider posting a MIN.

Snowpack Summary

A light amount of recent new snow has buried widespread layer of surface hoar crystals, which sit over a crust on solar aspects and low elevations.

A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust buried mid February is 30 to 50 cm below the snow surface and has been reactive in snowpack tests.

Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but is still worth keeping in mind in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h east and southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. 25 to 45 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Regions covered