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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2026–Mar 2nd, 2026

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 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

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

We are uncertain in the distribution of buried weak layers in the upper meter of the snowpack.

Dig down and look. Choose lower-consequence terrain in times of uncertainty.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, Several natural and one skier-triggered wind slab were observed in north-facing alpine terrain in Brandywine (Read full report here).

On Saturday, two size 2 natural wind slabs were observed from northeast alpine terrain in the Tantalus range. Explosive control near Whistler produced cornices up to size 2.5 that didn't pull slabs on the slope below.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme southwesterly winds have created widespread wind effect and built wind slabs on lee slopes.

A melt-freeze crust may be found on sunny slopes and at lower elevations. This surface crust will likely soften with sun and daytime warming.

40 to 70 cm of storm snow from the past week may be sitting on a layer of surface hoar, facets or a crust.

Another weak layer consisting of a crust with facets from early February is buried 80 to 100+ cm deep.

In general, these layers seem less reactive in the Whistler/Blackcomb backcountry compared to other areas.

The remaining snowpack appears to be well settled and bonded.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear skies. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

Monday

Sunny. 15 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 1 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.



More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
  • 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.

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.

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.