Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 28 – 29, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Stick to low-angle terrain away from overhead hazard. A complex snowpack continues to produce large avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Gusty easterly winds will continue to redistribute loose snow.

    Cornices are large and looming, give them space.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3.5

    Several weak layers persist in the snowpack. These layers continue to produce large avalanches and are a primary avalanche problem.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Very large persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported daily around the region. Most notable on Wednesday, included 4 size 1.5-2.5 avalanches that were remotely triggered from up to 350 m away. Many were reported to have failed on the weak layer from early March and others failed on the February drought layer.

A large and widespread wet loose avalanche cycle produced avalanches to size 3.5 Tuesday into Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Variable wind affect and wind slab covers open terrain at upper elevations. A crust is found up to 1400 m and higher on solar slopes.

Three layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack. Surface hoar and a crust that formed in mid-March can be found 30 to 70 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 60 to 100 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 120 to 200 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated, and there are no current concerns.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Increasing clouds. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level near 800 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday

Sunny. 5 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +6 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.

Regions covered