Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2025–Mar 28th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Very large avalanches have occurred in the region over the past few days.

Stick to conservative terrain and watch for signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A widespread avalanche cycle has occurred in the region over the past two days with avalanches up to size 3.5 (very large) reported. In many cases, storm slabs or wet avalanches stepped down to deeper persistent weak layers.

With temperatures falling, natural avalanche activity is expected to taper off, but human-triggered avalanches remain likely at upper elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Recent rain and warming has created a moist/wet upper snowpack 40 to 50 cm deep, right to ridgetops. A crust will likely form as temperatures cool and a dusting of up to 5 cm of new snow falls overtop the moist/wet surface snow. Lingering wind slabs may still exist at upper elevations on wind-loaded northerly slopes. The early March weak layer of facets, or surface hoar on a crust, is now down 60 to 130 cm. Very large avalanches (up to size 3.5) were reported on this layer this past week. Weak layers formed in mid-February and late-January are now buried 140 to 200 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with possible flurries up to 2 cm, or light rain below 1100 m. 10 to 25 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level dropping to 1000 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow above 1500 m, possible rain below. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.
Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.

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.