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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2025–Feb 28th, 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

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

Recent avalanche activity indicates an unstable snowpack & remote-triggering remains a serious concern.

Retreat to more conservative terrain if you encounter signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wed: Explosives control triggered avalanches up to size 3.5 & skiers remotely triggered a size 2.

Tues: Numerous large (size 2-2.5) avalanches with natural, explosive, & human triggers occurred.

Mon: Many natural & human triggered avalanches were reported (size 1-2.5)

Sun: A widespread, natural avalanche cycle was reported (up to size 3).

Looking forward: Evidence indicates storm slabs and persistent weak layers remain primed for human triggering.

Snowpack Summary

A recent storm deposited 20 to 50 cm of snow across the region and southwesterly winds formed reactive slabs on leeward slopes. At lower elevations and on sun-exposed slopes, warm temperatures and solar radiation resulted in a crust or moist snow. In wind-sheltered areas, the storm snow generally rests on a weak layer of facets or surface hoar, while elsewhere it overlies a widespread crust. Additional weak layers formed in January are found at varying depths within the upper 100 cm of snow. These include weak faceted snow, sun crusts on south-facing slopes, and surface hoar in shaded terrain. Otherwise the mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level falling to valley bottom.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. 25 to 45 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 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.
  • Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Stay away from steep slopes, open slopes, and convex rolls at and below treeline where weak layers may be preserved.

Problems

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.

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.

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.