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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2025–Mar 16th, 2025

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 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.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Glacier, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, Dogtooth, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold.

40 cm or more of storm snow and wind have formed reactive slabs.

Expect human triggering of large avalanches to remain likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday numerous natural occurring large to very large (size 2 -3.5) both persistent and storm slab avalanches where reported. Many of these avalanches occurred in the alpine and ran over 1000 m to the valley bottom. In one instance the debris flow ran 250 m up the other side of the valley. Extensive explosive avalanche control produced widespread large to very large (size 2-3.5) slab avalanches.

Large human-triggered avalanches continue to remain likely.

Snowpack Summary

On Friday another 5 cm of snow fell and now overlies, between 20 to 50 cm of new snow that fell on Thursday. Moderate gusting to strong southwest winds have formed new wind slabs. Over the past 7 days, up to 100 cm of storm snow has accumulated and it overlies a hard melt-freeze crust and surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered areas.

Weak layers of surface hoar and/or faceted grains, buried in mid-February and late January, are found 60 to 150 cm deep.

The lower half of the snowpack remains strong.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with afternoon sun, 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with afternoon sun, 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with afternoon sun 1 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.