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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2025–Mar 14th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

Since March 9th, 30-90 cm of snow has fallen, nearly doubling the snowpack in areas like Bow Summit. Recent reports of whumps, remote triggers, and natural avalanches mean human triggering remains very likely. Stick to low-angle terrain and avoid overhead exposure until conditions improve.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

There was limitied visibility in many areas today. Sunshine was a ski-cutting size 1-1.5 storm slabs (30-60cm deep) in the Delerium dive today; all reloads that had formed since the AM.

Since Saturday, there have been many natural avalanches up to size 3 and human-triggered avalanches. Most of the activity appears to be happening East of the divide, but there have been fewer observations in deeper snowpack areas to the West.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm in the past 24 hours and 30-90cm since March 9th, with the most snow in the Bow Summit region, along the Wapta, and in Little Yoho. Strong S winds have formed slabs over sun crusts on steep S aspects or firm wind-affected snow elsewhere.

A persistent weak layer (Feb 22/Jan 30 facets) is buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallower eastern areas, the mid/lower snowpack is very weak with facets and depth hoar, while deeper western areas are more consolidated (see profiles below).

Weather Summary

Thursday night: 5-15cm

Friday: Trace snow, light-mod winds and cooler temperatures (-9 to -12C.)

See tables below for more info

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.

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.

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.