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 28th, 2025–Mar 29th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Cold dry snow persists at high northerly elevations, this is also where persistent weak layers are most likely to be reactive.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A significant avalanche cycle occurred last 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). Reports of large avalanches to size 3 continued Tuesday through Thursday, likely triggered by warm temperatures or solar input.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust has formed on most surfaces. Dry snow persists on northerly aspects at upper elevations.

Where a strong surface crust is found, we expect that triggering deeper instabilities is trending unlike. However, three persistent weak layers remain notable in the snowpack and have been responsible for recent large avalanches. 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

Friday Night

Increasing clouds. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud, possible convective squalls. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Sunday

Mostly 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 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

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.