Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2025–Mar 2nd, 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 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.

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, North Monashee.

Prolonged warming will keep persistent slabs at their tipping point. Manage this high-consequence snowpack with low-consequence terrain.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

In the past week, numerous natural and rider-triggered wind slab and persistent slab avalanches have been reported, up to size 3.

Evidence indicates wind slabs and persistent weak layers remain primed for human triggering. Similar activity is expected on Sunday with continued warm temperatures and potential for strong sun.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 50 cm of settling storm snow rests on a weak layer of facets or surface hoar, while elsewhere it overlies a widespread crust. At lower elevations and on sun-exposed slopes, warm temperatures and solar radiation resulted in a crust or moist snow on the surface. Additional weak layers formed in January are found at varying depths within the upper 100 cm of snow. These include weak faceted snow, sun crusts on south-facing slopes, and surface hoar in shaded terrain. Otherwise, the mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500-2000 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m-2000 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 15 hm/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 hm/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
Stay away from steep slopes, open slopes, and convex rolls at and below treeline where weak layers may be preserved.

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.