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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2025–Mar 24th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Recent snow combined with sun and warm conditions on Monday will create unstable conditions.

Travel in complex avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a large (size 2) naturally-triggered persistent slab failed on a north-facing alpine slope near Crescent Spur. Several naturally triggered wind slabs have been reported in the region over the past few days, with some triggered by collapsing cornices. They were generally in the size 1-2 range (small to large). Whumpfing and shooting cracks were also reported by skiers near McBride - see this great MIN for details.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 30 cm of new snow has accumulated since Sunday, building reactive storm slabs. Sun and warming on Monday are expected to make the new snow particularly unstable. Sunny slopes and lower elevations will have moist or wet snow. The early March crust / surface hoar persistent weak layer is down 50 to 90 cm. The greatest concern for this layer is on sheltered north and east-facing upper-elevation terrain. Another weak layer of facets or surface hoar from mid-February lies 70 to 100 cm deep. This layer appears to be strengthening and has not triggered any recent avalanches. The lower snowpack remains well-settled.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow / possible rain below 1000 m. 30 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level around 1400 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. 45 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow / possible rain below 1600 m. 35 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Give the new snow several days to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent 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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.