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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2025–Mar 6th, 2025

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

Regions

Purcells, Esplanade, Dogtooth, East Purcell, St. Mary, West Purcell.

Continue to choose simple, mellow terrain. Signs of buried weak layers may be hard to find.

Remain especially cautious on high northerly slopes & areas without a thick, supportive crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Tues: South of Golden, several small to large natural persistent slab avalanches were reported at treeline and above up to size 2.5, with some being triggered by falling cornice chunks. These are suspected to have failed on the late January weak layer.

Mon: A few small size 1 wind slabs and sluffing were observed.

Looking forward: Avalanches on buried weak layers may be difficult to trigger, but if one is triggered, it is likely to be large and destructive.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 10 cm of recent snow is settling over a widespread melt-freeze crust that exists everywhere but high north-facing slopes. In wind sheltered areas it may have buried a layer of surface hoar.

A couple of weak layers consisting of a crust, facets or surface hoar from February and January remain a concern, buried 30 to 60 cm. Additionally, 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 layers, particularly the late-January layer, remain a primary concern at upper elevations where strong surface crusts are absent.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear. 5 to 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to valley bottom. Treeline low around -7 °C.

Thursday

Mostly sunny. Ridgetop wind shifting to 10 to 20 km/h from the west by the end of the day. Freezing level rising to 1700 m. Treeline high around -2 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to valley bottom overnight, rising to 1700 m through the day.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 8 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to near valley bottom overnight, rising to 1800 m through the day.

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.
  • In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Problems

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.