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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2025–Mar 18th, 2025

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

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Stay vigilant of changing conditions, especially when the March sun comes out.

Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards during periods of sun.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small storm slabs (size 1) were reactive to riders on alpine convex slopes near Cokely on Sunday.

Observations of small natural avalanches (dry and wet loose, wind and storm slabs) from this stormy weekend are still being reported throughout the region.

Thanks for sharing your observations via the MIN if you are going out into the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

The region received 15 to 20 cm of new snow this past weekend, accompanied by moderate to strong southerly wind. Variable conditions exist at upper elevations and reactive slabs are found at upper elevations. Southerly slopes were affected by the sun, resulting in heavy wet snow sitting on a thin crust.

A robust crust, formed in early March, can be found down 50 to 100 cm. The snow above is well bonded to this crust. Below this, the snowpack is well consolidated and strong.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 500 m.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 10 to 25 cm of new snow. 60 to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4°C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.

Problems

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.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.