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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2025–Apr 8th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson.

Reduce your exposure to overhead hazards, like large slopes or cornices.

Failing cornices have produced large avalanches recently.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend there were reports of wet loose avalanches up to size 1.5.

If you do head out in the mountains, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust has formed on most surfaces up to 1800 m. Dry snow persists on northerly aspects at upper elevations.

Three persistent weak layers remain notable in the snowpack and have been responsible for recent large avalanches. Surface hoar that formed in mid-March can be found 50 to 100 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 100 to 150 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 100 to 200 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. up to 10cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level 900 m.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 mm/cm of rain/snow. 40 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.