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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2025–Mar 21st, 2025

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

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson.

Fresh wind slabs will develop with the new snow and wind.

It is still possible for small avalanches to step down to weak layers deep in the snowpack and produce large destructive avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, several naturally triggered persistent slab avalanches to size 2.5 were reported. Natural and rider-triggered wind slabs to size 2 were also reported on south-facing slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow will accumulate over wind affected surfaces at higher elevations, with deeper deposits expected in north facing terrain features. Older wind slabs likely still linger below, found on all aspects. Lower elevations will receive a mix of rain and wet snow.

Two layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack. Surface hoar on a crust can be found 20 to 60 cm deep. And a layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 50 to 100 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated with no current concerns.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C as freezing levels rise to 1000 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing levels rise to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.

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.