Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2025–Mar 25th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected.

Start with simple terrain and investigate the bond of the new snow before increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Reports have been limited during the stormy period, but widespread avalanche activity with slabs up to size 3 has been reported in the southern parts of the region. Several cornice collapses, some of which triggered slabs below, have also occurred.

On Friday, a large (size 3) persistent slab was observed near Blue River on a south-facing treeline slope.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 35 cm of new snow has accumulated, building widespread storm slabs. Lower elevations are likely moist or wet. There is a significant concern for storm slabs to step down to deeper persistent weak layers. These consist of surface hoar, facets, or a crust:

The early March layer down 50–100 cm. This is the primary weak layer of concern.
Mid-Feb & Late-Jan layers down 80–180 cm. Concern for these is in shallow or rocky areas. Otherwise, they are unlikely to trigger without a significant load like a cornice failure or storm slab in motion.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm/mm of snow or rain with snowline climbing to 2500 m by end of day. 25 to 30 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +4 °C freezing level 2700 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow or rain below 1500 m. 25 to 30 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level falling to 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.