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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2025–Mar 20th, 2025

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

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, North Monashee, Robson.

***Updated 7:25***

Human-triggered avalanches are possible.

Use safe travel habits and regroup in safe spots.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday one small (size 1) slab avalanche was triggered by a skier on a northeast aspect in the alpine. Two small slabs and one very large (size 3) avalanche were triggered by explosive control work. On Monday a very large (size 3) natural avalanche was reported near Valemount.

Obvious signs of instability are tapering off, but human-triggered avalanches are still possible.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of snow has fallen since Monday. This new snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes.

Three persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets are found in the middle of the snowpack. The early March layer is between 60 and 120 cm down. The mid-February layer is between 70 and 150 cm deep and a layer from late January is down 150 cm. In lower elevations, these layers sit over a crust.

Below this, the snowpack is well settled.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

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.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.