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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 8th, 2025–Mar 9th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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

South Coast, Powell River, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron, Harrison-Fraser.

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended on Sunday.

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

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

With significant new snow and strong wind in the forecast for the weekend, we anticipate widespread avalanche activity will be very likely 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 25 to 50 mm of mixed precipitation expected through the day. Storm snow covers a thick a crust except on high north facing terrain, where new snow buries up to 20 cm of dense snow overlying a crust from earlier in March. Below this crust is a generally moist upper snowpack.

The mid and lower snowpack contain several crusts that are not concerning.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with heavy flurries, 20 to 50 mm of mixed precipitation. 50 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with heavy flurries, 25 to 50 mm of mixed precipitation. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level drops to 800 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy with light flurries, 2 to 4 cm of snow. 25 to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with flurries, 5 to 15 cm of snow. 25 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 800 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.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.

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.

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.