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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2025–Feb 28th, 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 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.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Persistent weak layers are scary and will be more concerning in warm weather.

Rider-triggered avalanches are likely and could be very destructive.

Be mindful of overhead hazards.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanches (wind slab and persistent slabs) have been observed since Sunday up to size 3 from 2000 m and above.

Scary large avalanches (size 2.5) were remotely triggered by skiers and snowmobilers on northerly alpine and treeline slopes. They were triggered 100 to 400 m away and failed on a preserved surface hoar layer, down 80 to 100 cm. Professionals are concerned about this layer.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 60 to 80 cm of settling recent snow covers weak surfaces from mid-February, including faceted snow or large surface hoar crystal in sheltered terrain.

A thin sun crust is visible up to 2000 m on southerly slopes, while extensive strong southerly winds have redistributed recent snow and scoured exposed areas.

A weak layer, buried at the end of January, is now 80 to 120 cm deep in the snowpack. This may present as a crust on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots. Natural avalanches, large human triggering and several remote triggering have been continually reported on this concerning weak layer since Sunday.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwesterly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +0°C. Freezing level reaching 2200 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5°C. Freezing level reaching 2800 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and clouds. 30 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3°C. Freezing level reaching 2500 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +0°C. Freezing level around 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.

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.

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.

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.