Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 27 – 28, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

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

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 to size 3.5 Tuesday into Wednesday.

Confidence

Moderate

Snowpack Summary

Variable wind affect and wind slab covers open terrain at upper elevations. A crust is found up to 1300 m and higher on solar slopes. In protected areas, 40 to 80 cm of recent snow is rapidly settling over a crust, surface hoar and wind-pressed surfaces.

Three layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack. Surface hoar that formed in mid-March can be found 40 to 80 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 90 to 125 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 115 to 195 cm deep.

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

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly clear. Gusts to 55 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C. Freezing level dropping to the valley bottom.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 30 to 60 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level below 600 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Sunday

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

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • 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.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

Regions covered