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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 28th, 2025–Mar 1st, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Big scary avalanches!

Warm temperatures and sun further destabilize the already spicy snowpack conditions. Stay disciplined and resist venturing into consequential terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Very large, scary persistent slab avalanche activity continues to be reported daily. On Thursday alone, several remotely triggered avalanches were reported size 2.5-3 (very large!) at alpine and treeline elevations. Many of these avalanches were triggered by riders from hundreds of meters away. Slabs have been 50 to 100 cm deep and have resulted in large and destructive avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow is moist or wet on solar aspects and at low elevations. At upper elevations, previous strong wind has redistributed surface snow and scoured exposed areas.

60 to 80 cm of snow continues to settle in warm temperatures, over a weak layer of facets and surface hoar buried in mid February.

Another weak layer, from late January, is buried 80 to 120 cm deep. This may present as a crust on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots. Large natural, remote and human-triggered avalanches continue to be reported on this layer.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1°C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3°C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 2 to 6 cm of snow. <10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

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.

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.