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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2025–Mar 26th, 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 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, human triggered possible.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Continued warming is destabilizing the snowpack, and wet loose avalanches are possible.

Warm, wet and sticky snow makes for less desirable travel conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, a few wet loose avalanches up to size 2 were reported. These failed on steep terrain features.

We expect some continued avalanche activity with the warming on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Above 2000 m, 50 cm of storm snow has been redistributed by strong south winds, so deeper deposits exist on north- and east-facing slopes. The surface is expected to be moist at all elevations. Below 2000 m, upwards of 50 mm of rain has soaked the upper snowpack.

A robust crust, formed in early March, can be found in the mid-pack. The snow above is well bonded to this crust.

Below this, the snowpack is well consolidated and strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with light rain up to 2 mm. 25 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with trace precipitation. 40 to 50 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level rises to 3000 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 mm falling as snow above 1000 m. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 2 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 15 to 30 mm, falling as snow above 1000 m. 60 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

Problems

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.

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.