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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2025–Mar 28th, 2025

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

Regions

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

The snowpack is complex, with large avalanches reported recently. Complex conditions are best managed by choosing simple, conservative terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Many size 2 to 3 persistent slab avalanches were reported on the Mountain Information Network over the weekend (see photos). This includes several slabs triggered by riders, including remotely. The AvCan field team observed some large natural slabs at Seaton that likely occurred on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Wind has modified surfaces and formed slabs in lee features. A crust is found up to 1500 m and higher on solar slopes. A layer of surface hoar is now buried 30 to 50 cm deep, and found in the alpine and on aspects that are not exposed to sunlight.

Another layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust buried in mid-February is 40 to 80 cm below the snow surface and has been reactive 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 is still worth keeping in mind in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mix of stars and cloud. Gusts to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level to valley bottom.

Friday

Increasing clouds. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.