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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2025–Mar 27th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Reactive wind slabs will build through the day on north through east aspects at upper elevations. If triggered, they could step down to persistent weak layers deeper in the snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new reports on Tuesday. We saw a social media post and on Drive BC that the Duffy road was closed from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday due to an avalanche hitting the road. No further information to note.

With temperatures falling, natural avalanche activity may taper but human triggered avalanches remain likely, especially at upper elevations affected by forecasted new snow and wind.

Snowpack Summary

Rain and warming to mountaintop has saturated the upper snowpack from 30 to 40 cm deep on all aspects and elevations, except high north-facing alpine slopes. As freezing levels fall on Thursday, a widespread crust will form. New snow accompanied by strong south wind will likely build storm slabs at upper elevations. Expect deeper and more reactive deposits on north through east-facing slopes.

The early March weak layer of facets, or surface hoar on a crust is now down 80 to 170 cm and is present on all aspects except high north-facing slopes. Very large avalanches (size 3 to 3.5) were reported on this layer this past week.

Weak layers formed in mid-February and late-January are now buried 180 to 250 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with light rain 5 to 10 mm. 15 to 35 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level dropping to 1700 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with some sun and flurries 5 to 10 cm. 20 gusting to 35 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with snow 10 to 15 cm above 1200 m. 15 to 35 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with scattered flurries up to 5 cm. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.