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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2025–Mar 29th, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Brandywine, Garibaldi, Spearhead, Tantalus, Harrison-Fraser.

Reactive storm slabs are expected and have the potential to step-down to persistent layers.

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

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, a few natural and human-triggered size 1-2 storm slabs and wet loose avalanches were observed.

Numerous, widespread and very large, naturally triggered avalanches (up to size 4) were reported in the region on Wednesday and Tuesday. Many slabs failed on or stepped down to persistent weak layers.

With further snow and wind in the forecast, storm slabs and persistent slabs are expected to be reactive to human triggers on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent rain and warming created a moist/wet upper snowpack up to 70 cm deep, and capped by a crust. 10 to 20 cm of snow may now cover this crust, with an additional 10 to 25 cm forecast to fall overnight and through Saturday. Lower elevations may see rain and moist or wet surface snow. The new snow accompanied by strong southerly wind is expected to build storm slabs at upper elevations. Expect deeper and more reactive deposits on northerly slopes.

Persistent weak layers from January, February and March can be found 100 to 160 cm and 200 to 300 cm deep. These layers were very reactive in the recent warming event. Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow above 1000 m, possible rain below. 35 to 40 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level around 1300 m.

Saturday

Cloudy, with 0 to 5 cm of snow above 1000 m, possible rain below. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level around 1300 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.

Monday

Cloudy, with 5 to 15 cm of snow above 1200 m, possible rain below. 30 km/h variable ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising 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.
  • Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.