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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

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson.

Stick to low-angle terrain away from overhead hazard. Wind, warm temperatures, and a complex snowpack are causing multiple avalanche problems.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A significant avalanche cycle occurred over the weekend, with very large slab avalanches (up to size 4) failing on multiple persistent weak layers. On Sunday, skiers remotely triggered a size 3 persistent slab near Shames (see photo). On Tuesday, solar input and warming triggered numerous avalanches to size 3.

Snowpack Summary

Mild temperatures are rapidly settling the 50 to 100 cm of storm snow from the past week. Wet snow and crusts likely extend up to 2000 m.

Three persistent weak layers are a concern in the snowpack. Surface hoar that formed in mid-March can be found 50 to 100 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 100 to 150 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 100 to 200 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated wet flurries, up to 10 cm. 40 to 60 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level dropping below 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

Sunny breaks. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.