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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2025–Mar 17th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Regions

Glacier.

There is a lot of variability in the snowpack right now.

Be sure to evaluate each slope with fresh eyes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, a skier triggered a size 1.5 storm slab in the start zone of Frequent Flyer where the debris almost hit the skin track.

Thurs' storm triggered a few natural avalanches in the hwy corridor, up to sz 2.5. Avalanche control Thursday produced widespread results, triggering avalanches up to sz 3.0.

Before Thursdays snowfall, large avalanche debris and fracture lines could be seen in most avalanche paths from last weekends storm which produced up to sz 4 avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of new snow has fallen since the big storm March 8/9. This new snow has been redistributed by strong SW winds. The March 5th interface exists down 50-100cm as a crust &/or surface hoar (3-10mm, largest in the alpine).

Two persistent weak layers (PWL) of heavily facetted snow from cold temps in Jan/Feb are now buried 120-190cm deep.

Weather Summary

Unsettled atmospheric conditions mean convective weather until the ridge sets up on Tuesday.

Tonight Isolated flurries. Alpine low -11°C. SW wind 20km/hr. Freezing Level (FZL) 600m.

Mon Cloudy, isolated flurries. High -9°C. West wind 20-30km/hr. FZL 1200m.

Tues Mix of sun/cloud, isolated flurries. Low -14°C, High -10 °C. W wind 20km/hr. FZL 800m.

Wed Sun/ cloud. Alpine high -8°C. Wind SW-25km/h. FZL 1200m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.