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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2025–Mar 8th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as new snow accumulates.

If you see 30 cm of new snow, treat the danger as HIGH.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, there was a large (size 2) skier-accidental avalanche that failed on the mid-February weak layer. No one was caught. The avalanche was in the northwest Purcells, on a west facing alpine slope.

There were also several small storm slabs, dry loose, and wind slabs reported on west and northwest aspects in the alpine.

On Wednesday, south of Revelstoke there was a large (size 3) natural persistent slab avalanche. It failed on the late January weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

Anywhere from 5 to 15 cm of new snow is expected by the end of the day Saturday.

A 3 to 5 cm thick melt-freeze crust, buried 10 to 15 cm deep, is present on all aspects except north-facing slopes above 2000 m. Surface hoar has been noted on this crust.

A weak layer, composed of facets, surface hoar, or a crust, is found 20 to 60 cm deep from mid-February. Another persistent weak layer, buried in late January, lies 50 to 110 cm deep. This layer is surface hoar, facets, or a crust, depending on the aspect.

The remaining snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, some areas may get up to 30 cm. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 20 to 50 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

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.

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.