Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 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.

A bit of new snow has freshened up the skiing.

Lots of variability exists in the snowpack at the moment depending on aspect, elevation and exposure to previous winds.

Investigate each slope before committing.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On March 4 there were several new avalanches in the park including:

A size 2 persistent slab avalanche on Mount Wilson. A size 2.5 persistent slab on Mount Cirrus and a size 1.5 Deep Persistent slab on Mushroom Peak.

The local ski hill also had explosive control results on the deep persistent layer up to size 2.5.

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

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: High -4 °C.

Ridge wind west: 10 km/h.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind west: 15-25 km/h.

Saturday

Cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -6 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 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.