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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2025–Mar 22nd, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
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

Blue River, Clearwater, Premier, Clemina, North Monashee, Robson.

Avoid complex and wind-loaded terrain.

Storm slabs may need another day or two to stabilize and bond.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Reports have been limited during the recent stormy period. On Thursday a very large (size 2.5) dry loose avalanche happened near Blue River on a south-facing alpine slope.

On Wednesday, two small (size 1) skier-triggered wind slabs occurred at treeline on a northeast-facing slope

With warming and sun in the forecast, we expect there will be potential for both natural and human-triggered large avalanches on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 60 cm of recent snow has formed widespread storm slabs. These slabs are expected to be thickest and most reactive on wind-loaded north and east-facing slopes. Sunny slopes may have moist snow during the warmest parts of the day.

Three persistent weak layers consisting of surface hoar, facets, or a crust may be found in the upper to mid-snowpack:

  • The early March layer buried 50 - 100 cm. This is the primary weak layer of concern.

  • The mid-February layer buried 70 - 150 cm.

  • The late January layer buried 120 - 180 cm.

The lingering concern for the Feb and Jan weak layers is in shallow or rocky areas, otherwise, these are unlikely to trigger.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Partly cloudy with flurries of up to 3 cm possible. 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. 20 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm, up to 15 cm coming Sunday night. 35 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.

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.

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.