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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2025–Mar 19th, 2025

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

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, North Monashee, Robson.

Large avalanches are still possible to trigger.

Use safe travel habits and regroup in safe spots.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday a very large (size 3) natural avalanche was reported near Valemount. 1 small (size 1) avalanche was remotely triggered below treeline on a northwest aspect. Several other small slab and loose dry avalanches were skier-triggered.

Obvious signs of instability are tapering off, but human-triggered avalanches are still possible.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 12 cm of new snow has fallen since Tuesday. A sun crust and/or moist snow can be found on slopes exposed to the sun.

Three persistent weak layers consisting of surface hoar and/or facets are found in the middle of the snowpack. The early March layer is between 60 and 120 cm down. The mid-February layer is between 70 and 150 cm deep and a layer from late January is down 150 cm. In lower elevations, these layers sit over a crust.

Below this, the snowpack is well settled.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Few clouds. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5°C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

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.

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.