Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2025–Mar 7th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Jasper, Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

There was a widespread natural avalanche cycle that occurred this past weekend. With cooler temperatures, fewer natural avalanches are expected but human triggered avalanches may still be possible.

We are dealing with a complex snowpack that varies greatly from slope to slope.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Warm weather on the weekend produced natural persistent slab avalanche activity up to size 2.5, along with numerous wet loose avalanches to size 2.

On Monday and Tuesday there were more loose avalanches observed up to size 1.5 on solar aspects.

Neighboring regions reported numerous natural size 2-3 avalanches over the weekend as well as explosive results up to size 3.5.

Snowpack Summary

The Icefields received up to 10 cm of new snow on Sunday night that now sits on a sun crust on solar aspects to mountaintop. The upper 50 cm of the snowpack has two persistent weak layers mostly comprised of facets but in some areas surface hoar, crusts and old wind slabs can also be found. Lots of variability exists in the upper snowpack depending on the slope. The bottom of the snowpack is comprised of weak facets and depth hoar.

Weather Summary

Wednesday

Accumulation of Snow: 6 cm.

Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.

Ridge wind light to 20 km/h.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -3 °C.

Ridge wind light to 15 km/h.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15-30 km/h.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.