Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2025–Mar 29th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Avalanche hazard is decreasing, but a complex snowpack persists: choose conservative routes, limit exposure to avalanche terrain, and regroup in protected locations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Many size 2 to 3 persistent slab avalanches were reported on the Mountain Information Network last weekend (see photos). This includes several slabs triggered by riders, including remotely. The AvCan field team observed some large natural slabs at Seaton that likely occurred on Monday. There have been few field reports through the week.

Snowpack Summary

Wind has modified surfaces and formed slabs in lee features. A crust is found up to 1500 m and higher on solar slopes.

A layer of surface hoar is now buried 30 to 60 cm deep, it persists at alpine elevations and on 'polar aspects' (slopes protected from the sun).

Another layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust buried in mid-February is 60 to 100 cm below the snow surface and has been reactive in snowpack tests.

Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but is still worth keeping in mind in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Increasing clouds. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 25 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Monday

Sunny. 5 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

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.

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.