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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2025–Mar 24th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected.

Stick to non-avalanche terrain or very small features with limited consequences.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Reports have been limited during the stormy period, but widespread avalanche activity with slabs up to size 3 has been reported in the southern parts of the region. Several cornice collapses, some of which triggered slabs below have also occurred. On Friday, a very large size 3 persistent slab was observed near Blue River on a south-facing treeline slope.

With recent snow, sun and warming in the forecast, we expect to see widespread and large avalanche activity on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 35 cm of snow has accumulated since Sunday, building widespread storm slabs. Sunny slopes and lower elevations will have moist or wet snow. Sun and warming on Monday are expected to make the new snow particularly unstable. There is a significant concern for storm slabs to step down to deeper persistent weak layers. These consist of surface hoar, facets, or a crust:

  • The early March layer down 50 - 100 cm. This is the primary weak layer of concern.

  • Mid-Feb & Late-Jan layers down 80 - 180 cm. Concern for these is in shallow or rocky areas. Otherwise, they are unlikely to trigger without a significant load like a cornice failure or storm slab in motion.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with 10 to 25 cm of snow / possible rain below 1300 m. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level around 1500 m.

Monday

Early morning flurries up to 5 cm, then clearing and sunny. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow / possible rain below 1600 m. 15 to 20 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow / possible rain below 2500 m. 25 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level rising to 2700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

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.

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.