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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 25th, 2025–Feb 26th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Conditions can change rapidly during this time of year, especially if the sun comes out.

Be mindful that deep instabilities are present and have produced recent large avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche was reported. Numerous wet loose avalanches (up to size 2.5) from the past weekend are still being observed in the area.

A few natural avalanches (size 2.5 to 3) were observed in Allison Pass this weekend. Uncertainty remains about their character (persistent or storm) but they occurred on northeast-facing slope at treeline (1740m) and had a large (200 m +) wide crown fractures.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 40 cm of rapidly settling storm snow is found at treeline and above. Wind-affected snow is present in lee features. A weak layer of faceted snow or surface hoar is now buried 50 to 60 cm deep and present in higher elevations, particularly shaded terrain.

A crust from December exists buried 100 to 150 cm deep, with facets around it in shallow areas.

At lower elevations, the snow is wet, heavy and water-saturated.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature stable around -1°C. Freezing level around 1300 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature stable around +6°C. Freezing level rising to 2700 m.

Thursday

5 to 10 cm of wet snow at upper elevations only. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3°C. Freezing level around 1800 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and clouds. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature stable around +6°C. Freezing level rising to 2700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.

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.

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.