Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 5th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Uncertainty exists around reactivity of buried weak layers. Use careful route-finding and stick to low-consequence slopes away from overhead hazard.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, explosive control work in the Bulkley area produced widely propagating slab avalanches size 2 to 3, some of which involved buried weak layers.
Our field team reported size 2 natural wind slab avalanches in the Telkwas on Tuesday and Babines on Wednesday. They also observed easy propagating snowpack test results on the February layer.
Looking forward, human triggering of wind affected snow and persistent weak layers remains possible.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow has been wind affected in exposed terrain. South-facing slopes and low elevations hold a surface crust.
A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust formed during the February drought, are buried 30 to 50 cm deep and give easy results in snowpack tests.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but remains an isolated concern.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Mostly clear. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Friday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow above 1200m, light rain below. 60 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 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.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
- Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Buried persistent weak layers have produced large, widely propagating avalanches in recent days, and give easy results in snowpack tests. They remain triggerable by riders.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may linger near ridge crests and rollovers. Recent winds have switched from east to southwest, so watch for slabs on all aspects and expect locally variable conditions.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 6th, 2025 4:00PM
