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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2025–Mar 5th, 2025

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Dial back your terrain choices if you’re finding more than 20 cm of storm snow. Avoid north-facing alpine slopes, these areas are where triggering persistent weak layers is most likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend, numerous natural and human-triggered avalanches, up to size 3.5, were reported at all elevations and aspects, many failing on the late January persistent weak layer.

On Sunday, a skier remotely triggered a size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a NW slope at 2300 m near Kaslo. The avalanche failed on the February weak layer and stepped down to the January weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

By Wednesday morning, 5 to 10 cm of new snow is expected, with an additional 5 to 10 cm throughout the day. The new snow covers a 3 to 5 cm thick melt-freeze crust that exists on all aspects, except on northerly slopes above 2000 m.

A weak layer, composed of facets, surface hoar, or a crust, is found 20 to 60 cm deep. Another persistent weak layer, buried in late January, lies 50 to 110 cm deep across the region. This layer also consists of surface hoar/facets or a crust, depending on the aspect.

The remaining snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with flurries, 5 to 10 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy with flurries. Southern parts of the region are expected to receive 3 cm of snow, while northern areas may get an additional 10 cm. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5°C. Freezing level rising to 1300 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

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.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.