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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2025–Mar 25th, 2025

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Rising temperatures are creating very dangerous avalanche conditions and terrible riding quality. No reason to go near avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous storm slab avalanches size 1 to 2 have been reported daily over the last few days, including numerous human-triggered slabs in the top 30 cm and larger natural avalanches in alpine terrain.

A few very large natural and artificially triggered persistent slab avalanches size 3 to 4(!) were reported over the weekend. Large, destructive persistent slab avalanches will become increasingly likely as temperatures warm this week.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 50 cm of heavy, moist snow from Monday sits over a complex snowpack.

Several weak layers in the snowpack are currently concerns for triggering persistent slab avalanches:

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from early March buried 50 to 80 cm deep,

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from mid-February buried 70 to 100 cm deep, and

  • Facets/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 100 to 150+ cm deep.

This complex snowpack combined with dynamic weather makes travel in avalanche terrain dangerous.

Weather Summary

Monday night

2 to 8 cm of snow above 2000 m, light rain below. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m, rising to 2400 m.

Tuesday

Clearing skies in the afternoon. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level rising to 2600 m.

Wednesday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +10 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with rain turning to snow. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level falling to 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Avoid the runout zones of avalanche paths. Avalanches could run full path.
  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.

Problems

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.

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.