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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2025–Mar 18th, 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

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

Avalanche danger is at the top end of CONSIDERABLE, with natural, explosive and human-triggered avalanches reported daily. We're entering a dangerous time for decision-making: conditions are slowly improving, thus the danger is less obvious, people want to ski, and the weather is getting nice. Manage your desires carefully.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avalanche activity continues, primarily focussed in the shallow snowpack zones:

Sunday saw a size 3 natural avalanche in Redoubt Bowl (photo below), a size 3 natural in Crowfoot Peak and a retreat from the Bow Canyon due to remote avalanches. Monday saw a size 2.5 natural avalanche on Ptarmigan Peak and Sunshine ski patrol triggered five size 2.5 avalanches with explosives the same day. There was a fatal avalanche near Lake Louise last Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Over the past 10 days, 40-70 cm of new snow has accumulated and settled into a slab, with the deepest amounts found in the Bow Summit area, along the Wapta, and Little Yoho. This overburden sits on a very weak, faceted mid and lower snowpack and fails easily in snowpack tests. This condition will be slow to stabilize. Limited evidence from Little Yoho (Mt. Field area) indicates a stronger snowpack here, which should be faster to strengthen.

Weather Summary

A ridge of high pressure is building from the west and will bring several days of nice weather. Expect a mix of sun and cloud on Tuesday and a bit more sun on Wednesday. Temperatures will remain seasonal, between (-1 and -10) except in the direct sun where it will warm up fast.

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.