Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Mar 9 – 10, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended on Sunday.

As the storm slab problem worsens, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    This layer remains a concern in high north facing terrain where the snowpack depth is variable. This layer may become more reactive with the added stress of new snow and wind.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Ongoing snow and wind will build reactive storm slabs at all elevations. Back off if you encounter signs of instability like whumpfing, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

By 4 pm on Saturday, several natural and human-triggered storm slab avalanches were reported up to size 2.

As storm snow accumulates through the weekend, we anticipate that increased avalanche activity will persist on Sunday.

If you are headed to the backcountry, please consider sharing your photos and observations from your day on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

By Sunday morning, storm snow totals are expected to be up to 80 cm, with an additional 20 to 40 cm of snow expected through the day. Storm snow covers a crust on all aspects except on high north facing terrain, where new snow buries 10 to 15 cm of snow overlying a crust from earlier in March.

A layer of facets and surface hoar from mid February can be found down 30 to 60 cm.

Another layer of facets and surface hoar from late January can be found down 80 to 120 cm.

The lower snowpack contains several crusts that are not concerning.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with heavy flurries, 30 to 55 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level around 1300 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries, 20 to 40 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level around 1000 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy with light flurries, 1 to 3 cm. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level around 800 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy with light flurries, 1 to 5 cm. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level around 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeply buried weak layers and result in very large avalanches.

Regions covered