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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2025–Mar 26th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Stick to low-angle terrain away from overhead hazard. Warm temperatures and a complex snowpack are causing multiple avalanche problems.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A significant avalanche cycle occurred over the 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). Sunny weather on Monday also triggered some wet avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Mild temperatures are rapidly settling the 50 to 100 cm of storm snow from the past week. Wet snow and crusts likely extend up to 1500 m.

Three persistent weak layers are a concern in the snowpack. 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

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m and up to 2000 m along the coast.

Thursday

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • 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.

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.

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.