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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2025–Mar 27th, 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

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

Watch for reactive storm slabs building through the day at treeline and above. Strong south winds will load leeward slopes (north-east), building deeper slabs.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, numerous natural and explosive triggered wet slab avalanches were reported up to size 3.

Natural avalanche activity may decrease with cooling temperatures, but rider-triggered storm slabs will likely be reactive on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Rain and warming to mountaintop has saturated the upper snowpack from 40 to 70 cm deep on all aspects and elevations, except high north-facing alpine slopes. As freezing levels fall Thursday, a widespread crust will form. New snow accompanied by strong south wind will likely build storm slabs at upper elevations. Expect deeper and more reactive deposits on north—and east-facing slopes.

Persistent weak layers from January, February and March can be found 100 to 160 cm and 200 to 300 cm deep. These layers were reactive in the recent warming event.

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

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy rain 15 to 20 mm transitioning to snow above 1200 m by 4 am. 35 to 65 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level dropping to 1500 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm above 1200 m. 20 gusting to 35 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with snow 10 to 15 cm above 1200 m. 15 to 35 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with scattered flurries up to 5 cm. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.