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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2025–Mar 18th, 2025

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

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Changing conditions are expected and a complex snowpack is hidden under the storm snow.

Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards during periods of sun.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Debris from natural and human-triggered avalanches (cornice falls, wind and storm slabs) from the stormy weekend continue to be reported along Duffey Lake Road. Small wet avalanches also occurred with brief strong solar radiation.

Two large persistent slab avalanches (size 2–2.5) were observed, failing naturally on the early March weak layer and stepping down to mid-February on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

The region received 10 cm of new snow this weekend, totaling 80 to 150 cm of recent storm snow. Southerly winds have formed deeper deposits of wind-transported snow into lee features and a thin sun crust is buried in the top 15 to 20 cm.

This sits on a weak layer formed in early March that consists of facets or surface hoar that overlie a crust on all aspects except high north-facing slopes. Two very large natural avalanches (up to size 3.5) were reported on this layer last Friday, one of them running to valley bottom.

Weak layers formed in mid-February and late-January are now buried 100 to 175 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly clear. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Tuesday

Mostly clear and increasing cloudiness in the afternoon. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.

Problems

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.