Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 20th, 2025–Feb 21st, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

As temperatures rise and new snow becomes heavy, slab avalanches are more likely to occur on the underlying weak faceted snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, a group reported being able to ski cut wet slabs in the forest due to warming temperatures.

Small storm slab (up to size 1.5) avalanches have been reported recently.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 15 cm of new snow has accumulated on top of various surfaces formed during recent cold, dry conditions. These include firm wind effect in exposed terrain, weak surface hoar or faceted grains in sheltered terrain, and sun crusts on sun-affected slopes.

20 to 50 cm of generally faceted snow overlies a potentially weak layer buried in late January. In many areas, this layer consists of a hard crust along with weak facets or surface hoar.

The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature warming to 0 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 10 mm of mixed precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 10 mm of mixed precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 2200 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.

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.