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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 26th, 2025–Feb 27th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Dangerous avalanche conditions continue. Avoid large slopes, overhead hazards and steep terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural and human triggered slab avalanches are very likely on Thursday.

No new observations on Tuesday. Continued evidence of natural avalanche cycle from last weekend up to size 3.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of new snow and strong southerly wind is expected by Thursday morning.

The upper metre of the snowpack is complicated. This snow sits above several significant weak layers that formed during the January and February dry spells. These include facets, surface hoar (in sheltered terrain), and crust on solar aspects.

A layer of facets on top of a crust from early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

New snow 10 to 20 cm. 25 gusting to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud with snow 2 to 5 cm. 10 to 45 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Friday

Snow 5 to 15 cm. 10 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 10 km southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1100 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 slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

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.