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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2025–Mar 23rd, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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, McBride, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Fresh wind slabs will develop on Sunday.

For the best riding conditions and lowest hazard, look for soft, wind-sheltered snow at lower elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a large (size 2) naturally-triggered large persistent slab avalanche failed on a north-facing alpine slope near Crescent Spur. Several naturally-triggered wind slabs have been reported across the region over the past few days, with some being 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

Up to 20 cm of new snow has accumulated in the last few days, with up to 10 cm more forecast to fall throughout Sunday. Southwesterly winds are expected to be building fresh wind slabs near and just below ridge crests at alpine and treeline elevations.

40 to 80 cm of snow rests on a weak layer buried in early March that is a hard melt-freeze crust, or surface hoar in wind-sheltered treeline areas. This layer is of greatest concern in sheltered north and east-facing upper-elevation terrain.

A buried weak layer of surface hoar and/or faceted grains from mid-February lies 50 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

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow, up to 15 cm coming Sunday night. 30 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.