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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 6th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Avoid steep north-facing slopes, where triggering persistent weak layers is most likely.

Sheltered terrain should have the best riding and safest conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, there were numerous wet loose avalanches from steep slopes facing the sun. Mostly small, with the occasional large one (size 2).

Last week, several persistent slab avalanches occurred, up to size 2.5, on north-to-east facing alpine and treeline terrain.

Although no recent avalanche activity has been reported on this layer, it remains reactive in test pits, and professionals in the region are still concerned about it.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5 cm of snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on all aspects to 1600 m. Southwest wind is expected to redistribute this snow into wind slabs in exposed areas.

A weak layer of surface hoar or facets is found 20 to 50 cm down in many areas. A second weak layer buried 60 to 90 cm consists of surface hoar, facets. and/or a hard crust. These persistent layers remain a concern, with the potential for large step-down avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.

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.