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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2025–Mar 17th, 2025

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

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

Avoid large, steep and open slopes at higher elevations where persistent weak layers are more likely to be triggered.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several wind and persistent slabs were triggered on Saturday, to size 1 (see photos below). Avalanches failed on a mix of wind affected snow, buried crust or crust and surface hoar combinations.

Snowpack Summary

Southerly winds have redistributed recent snowfall into deep pockets on north facing slopes. Winds are forecast to shift west/northwest on Monday, likely creating loading on all aspects.

Two layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack. Surface hoar on a crust can be found 20 to 60 cm deep. This layer has been reactive where a slab has consolidated above. And a layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer produced large natural and human-triggered avalanches last week.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated with no current concerns.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with flurries. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures drop to -8 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. 25 to 35 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with flurries. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing levels around 1100 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with flurries. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C as freezing levels rise to 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.