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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2025–Mar 28th, 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 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

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Harrison-Fraser.

Reactive storm slabs are expected at treeline and above.

Stick to conservative terrain and watch for signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, numerous, widespread and very large, naturally triggered avalanches (up to size 4) were reported in the region. Many were suspected to have failed on persistent weak layers. On Tuesday, numerous natural and explosive-triggered wet slab avalanches were reported up to size 3.

With more new snow and wind in the forecast, storm slabs and persistent slabs are expected to be reactive to human triggers on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent rain and warming has created a moist/wet upper snowpack 40 to 70 cm deep, except for high elevation terrain, which saw around 5 to 10 cm of new snow. The moist/wet snow will likely form into a crust as temperatures cool and then 5 to 20 cm of new snow falls overtop on Friday. The new snow accompanied by strong southerly wind may build storm slabs at upper elevations. Expect deeper and more reactive deposits on northerly slopes. Persistent weak layers from January, February and March can be found 100 to 160 cm and 200 to 300 cm deep. These layers were very reactive in the recent warming event. Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 1300 m, possible rain below. 40 to 55 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m dropping to 1300 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow above 1100 m, possible rain below. 35 to 45 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow above 1000 m, possible rain below. 25 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 25 to 35 km/h east ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.

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.

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.