Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 22nd, 2025–Feb 23rd, 2025

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, North Monashee.

This is a period of rapid change for the snowpack.

Dangerous avalanche conditions will exist with the arrival of new snow, mild temperatures, and increasing wind.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Friday: One large (size 2) remote triggered avalanche was reported on a north facing slope at treeline.

Thursday: Several skier-triggered and natural wind slab avalanches were reported, up to size 2. Occurring on northwest through east aspects, in treeline or alpine terrain.

With more snow, wind, and warm temperatures in the forecast, we anticipate natural avalanche activity to increase in the coming days.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is accumulating across the region (10 to 40cm), burying various surfaces, including old wind-affected snow in exposed terrain, sun crusts on south-facing slopes, and weak surface hoar or faceted grains in sheltered areas.

Layers from dry conditions in January are found at varying depths within the upper 100 cm of snow. These include weak faceted snow, sun crusts on south-facing slopes, and surface hoar in shaded terrain.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 15 to 30 cm of snow except 5 to 10 cm in the south west of the region. 30 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Mostly sunny with up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
Avalanche danger is expected to increase throughout the day.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.