Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2025–Mar 25th, 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

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Recent snow and high freezing levels will create dangerous avalanche conditions.

Stick to low-angle terrain away from overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several natural persistent slab avalanches up to size 3 were reported on Friday, failing on the mid-March or early March surface hoar layers.

Additionally, on Sunday, a size 2 avalanche was rider-triggered on a northwest aspect in the alpine. This avalanche was believed to have occurred on the February drought layer.

Snowpack Summary

50-100 cm of recent snow is being redistributed by variable winds. This snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces and crusts on steep south-facing terrain.

Three layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack. Surface hoar that formed in mid-March can be found 65 to 85 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 90 to 125 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 115 to 195 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated, and there are no current concerns.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing levels rise to 1300 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.Freezing levels rise to 1300 m.

Thursday

Cloudy. Up to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels rise to 1400 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.
Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

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.

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.