Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 10th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Assess bond of new snow to underlying surfaces. Take extra caution transitioning into wind affected terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Thurs: No new avalanches were reported, but snowpack tests done by our field team east of Elkford suggest that the persistent weak layer is still triggerable by humans.
Looking forward: Avalanches on buried weak layers may be difficult to trigger, but if one is triggered, it is likely to be large and destructive.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 8 cm of new snow is being redistributed by strong southwest winds. Below 1900 m, and on solar aspects, this sits on a surface crust from recent sun and warming.
At treeline and above, the new snow falls on 5 to 10 cm of snow that has been redistributed by predominantly southwest wind.
The main feature of the region's overall shallow snowpack is a persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January now buried 40 to 80 cm deep. This layer was the cause of several avalanches last week.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mainly cloudy, with up to 3 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy, with flurries. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy, with up to 3 cm of snow 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.
Thursday
Mainly cloudy, with up to 10 cm of snow 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow arrives with moderate to strong southwest winds. Old wind slabs exist beneath the new snow
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The persistent weak layer has recently produced several large to very large avalanches. It remains a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust near the surface.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 11th, 2025 4:00PM
