Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Mar 4 – 5, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Avalanche danger will start out at LOW and may increase to MODERATE in areas where sufficient snow accumulates by end of the day Tuesday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Fresh pockets of wind slab may slide easily on the underlying crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the warm weekend, wet loose and slab avalanches up to size 2 were observed. These type of avalanches have become unlikely as surfaces refreeze.

Looking forward, wind slab avalanches become increasingly likely as new snow arrives.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 15 cm of new snow sits on a widespread surface crust. Below, the upper snowpack is wet.

A number of decomposing crusts may be found in the mid snowpack. The most prominent was buried in late December and is still producing snowpack test results. The remainder of the snowpack is dense and well-bonded.

For more details, check out North Shore Rescue's conditions report from Friday.

Weather Summary

Monday night

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2°C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow then clearing in the afternoon. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind switching northeast and easing. Treeline temperature -2°C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

Regions covered