Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2025–Mar 4th, 2025

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

Regions

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Weak layers exist in the snowpack, and conditions are primed for human triggering.

Wind-loaded slopes at ridgecrest will be the most likely place to trigger an avalanche.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a natural wind slab was observed in a zone called the Onion. This released on a north aspect at 1650 m.

Wind-loaded slopes at upper elevations are most suspect and may be primed for human-triggering.

Snowpack Summary

Wind-transported snow has likely built deeper slabs on northerly aspects at upper elevations. South-facing slopes have formed a crust and lower elevation snow may be crusty as freezing levels fall.

The upper metre of the snowpack is complicated. This snow sits above several significant weak layers that formed during the January and February dry spells. These include facets, surface hoar (in sheltered terrain), and crust on solar aspects.

A layer of facets on top of a crust from early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom overnight.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west wind. Treeline temperatures -1. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures 0. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.

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.