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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 26th, 2025–Feb 27th, 2025

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

Regions

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Consider danger HIGH if you see 20 cm or more of new snow.

Retreat to more conservative terrain if you encounter any signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Tuesday: Riders remote-triggered slabs in the Torpy (photo below)

Monday: Several natural and human-triggered avalanches were reported. A few were remote-triggered, indicating a touchy weak layer.

Last Weekend: A natural avalanche cycle (up to size 2.5) was reported on all aspects at all elevations.

Looking forward: Snowpack tests and remotely triggered avalanches indicate that storm slabs and persistent weak layers are still primed for human triggering.

Snowpack Summary

A new rain crust exists up to 1500 m in some areas. 15 - 40 cm of recent storm snow, accompanied by strong southwest alpine winds built widespread slabs. An additional 5 to 20 cm of new snow or rain at lower elevations is expected overnight and through Thursday. The highest precipitation amounts are expected in the southeastern parts of the region. The storm snow is covering surface hoar or facets in many areas. Persistent weak layers formed through January are buried between 50 to 80 cm. These consist of more surface hoar and faceted grains, and/or a hard crust. These layers continue to be source of concern and potential for large step-down avalanches.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow / possible rain below 1500m. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m dropping to 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow / possible rain below 1200 m. Heaviest precipitation forecast for the southeastern parts of the region. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom overnight and back up to 1600 m through the day.

Saturday

Cloudy with 1 to 4 cm of snow / light rain below 1500 m. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.

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.