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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2025–Mar 26th, 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 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.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Sun, warm temperatures, and a complex snowpack are causing multiple avalanche problems. Very dangerous avalanche conditions are expected on Wednesday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, several natural persistent slab avalanches were reported up to size 3, several of which failed on the weak layer from early March. Some of these were triggered by cornice failures, and two were remotely triggered from up to 100 m away. Some natural wind slab avalanches were also observed.

On Sunday, a size 2 avalanche was rider-triggered on a northwest aspect in the alpine. This avalanche was believed to have occurred on the February drought layer.

Snowpack Summary

50-100 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by variable winds. This snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces and crusts on steep south-facing terrain.

Three layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack. Surface hoar that formed in mid-March can be found 65-85 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 90-125 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 115-195 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated, and there are no current concerns.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing levels 1400 m.

Thursday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing levels 1200 m.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 30 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing levels 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Problems

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.

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.