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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2025–Mar 29th, 2025

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 possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Regions

Sea To Sky, South Coast Inland, Homathko, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

The persistent slab problem is complex and unpredictable.

Start with conservative terrain and gather information before committing to larger slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A widespread avalanche cycle occurred in the region over the past few days, with avalanches up to size 3.5 (very large) reported. In many cases, storm slabs or wet avalanches stepped down to deeper persistent weak layers.

With temperatures falling, natural avalanche activity is expected to taper off, but human-triggered avalanches remain possible to likely at upper elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Recent rain and warming created a moist/wet upper snowpack 40 to 50 cm deep, right to ridgetops. As temperatures cooled, a crust formed at upper elevations. 10 to 20 cm of new snow may now cover this crust with moist snow below. Isolated wind slabs may exist at upper elevations on wind-loaded slopes. The early March weak layer of facets, or surface hoar on a crust, is now down 60 to 130 cm. Very large avalanches (up to size 3.5) were reported on this layer this past week. Weak layers formed in mid-February and late-January are now buried 140 to 200 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy, with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 1500 m / possible light rain below. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m, dropping to 1000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow above 1000 m, possible rain below. 15 to 30 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow above 1500 m, possible rain below. 10 to 20 km/h variable ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.

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.

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.