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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2025–Mar 18th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Changing conditions are expected and a complex snowpack is hidden under the storm snow.

Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards during periods of sun.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Storm and wind slabs were reactive to skier's traffic on alpine lee and cross-loaded features, producing avalanches up to size 1.5, with good propagation along ridge crests and uphill steep terrain.

Fast-running sluffs were easily triggered by riders on steep northerly slopes, producing small loose dry avalanches throughout the region.

Thanks for sharing your observations via the MIN if you are going out into the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

The region received 10 to 20 cm this past weekend, totaling 120 to 175 cm of recent storm snow, which has settled out rapidly. Southerly winds have formed deeper deposits of wind-transported snow into lee features.

Under it, a weak layer formed in early March that consists of a crust on all aspects except high north-facing slopes and facets or surface hoar in some areas.

Weak layers formed in mid-February and late January are now buried 150 to 250 cm deep. We suspect these layers have mainly healed, but observations have been limited by stormy conditions.

Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and clouds. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 15 to 20 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.

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.

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.

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.