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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2025–Apr 19th, 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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Weak layers in the snowpack continue to be a concern. A cautious approach is recommended, especially in high-elevation, north terrain where the snowpack remains most complex.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, natural wet loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed on all aspects at treeline and in the alpine.

Natural wind slabs up to size 3 were observed earlier in the week before the warming event. Some of these stepped down to persistent weak layers in the middle of the snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

A widespread surface crust is expected to have formed following Thursday's warming event. The new snowfall on Friday and Saturday is expected to be redistributed by moderate winds in wind-exposed terrain.

Three layers of note currently exist in the mid-snowpack and still have the potential to cause large avalanches:

  • A layer of surface hoar and a crust that formed in mid-March is 50 to 80 cm below the snow surface.

  • Another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March buried 70 to 120 cm.

  • A layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 120 to 200 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with snowfall up to 6 cm. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with lingering flurries in the morning, 1-3 cm. 20-30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.

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.

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.

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.