Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2025–Feb 24th, 2025

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Jordan, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Snow continues to pile up, and will continue to stress test the snowpack.

Large avalanches are a concern with a buried weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Saturday:

A natural avalanche cycle with mostly large avalanches (up to size 3) happened in the region, on all aspects and at all elevations. There was a concentration of avalanche activity on north and east aspects in the alpine and at treeline.

Friday:

Several remote, natural and human triggered avalanches were reported on north, east and south aspects. These avalanches were both small and large (up to size 2.5) and in some cases stepped down to persistent weak layers

Snowpack Summary

30 to 50 cm of new snow continues to accumulate atop layers of surface hoar in sheltered terrain and a thin crust on sun-affected slopes.

Below these layers, the upper snowpack is largely faceted and poorly bonded with another layer of surface hoar in sheltered terrain and a thin crust on sun-affected slopes. This layer, buried in late January, varies in depth but generally exists within the upper 100 cm of snow.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with flurries. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
Avalanche danger is expected to increase throughout the day.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.