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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 31st, 2025–Apr 1st, 2025

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

Regions

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

Human-triggered persistent slab avalanches are still possible in the alpine and treeline where a thick crust does not exist.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

At treeline and above, a few wet loose avalanches were seen from steep terrain features. Where a thick, supportive surface crust is found, we expect that triggering avalanches on buried weak layers is unlikely.

A natural avalanche cycle continued through last week, with very large slab avalanches (to size 4) failing on buried persistent weak layers. Skiers were able to remotely trigger large slides.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust has formed on most surfaces. Dry snow persists on northerly aspects at upper elevations.

Three persistent weak layers remain notable in the snowpack and have been responsible for recent large avalanches. 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

Monday Night

Clear periods. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 400 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • 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.

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.