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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2025–Mar 30th, 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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Very large natural persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported on deeply buried weak layers.

Strong solar radiation and warm temperatures increase the likelihood of triggering.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, several naturally triggered size 3 persistent slab avalanches were reported on northerly aspects at treeline and above, near Trout Lake.

A significant avalanche cycle swept through the Columbia Mountains from Monday to Thursday, producing many full-path, size 3 and 4 avalanches. These were primarily persistent slabs that were triggered by rapidly rising temperatures, snow/rain, cornice falls, and smaller storm slabs in motion.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of snow overlies a wet, rain-soaked upper snowpack. Expect a surface crust to form at night on most terrain, except possibly on high north alpine slopes.

Recent avalanche activity has involved multiple persistent weak layers. The most common failure layer is the early March surface hoar, facet, and crust layer, buried 70 to 150 cm deep.

Many avalanches have also stepped down to deeper weak layers from February and January, buried 150 to 200 cm deep.

These layers are still adjusting to recent stress and remain a concern for human-triggering and step-down avalanches.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Clear skies. 5 to 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with flurries, 5 to 10 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
  • Loose avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.

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.

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.

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.