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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2025–Mar 27th, 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 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

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Large persistent slab avalanches have been occurring across the region, making low-angle, conservative terrain the best choice.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Many size 2 to 3 persistent slab avalanches were reported on the Mountain Information Network over the weekend (see photos). This includes several slabs triggered by riders, including remotely. The AvCan field team observed some large natural slabs at Seaton that likely occurred on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Increasing easterly winds will quickly redistribute loose snow. Recent snow covers a layer of surface hoar buried 30 to 50 cm deep. This layer of surface hoar is present in the alpine and on aspects that are not exposed to sunlight.

Another layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust buried in mid-February is 40 to 80 cm below the snow surface and has been reactive in snowpack tests.

Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but is still worth keeping in mind in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level dropping below 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • 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.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

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.