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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 25th, 2025–Feb 26th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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 exist. Avoid large slopes, overhead hazards and steep terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of a widespread avalanche cycle from last weekend's storm is trickling in. Reports of natural slab avalanches up to (size 2.5) and wet loose from steep terrain up to (size 2.5) occurred during the storm.

Snow, rain, strong southerly wind and rising freezing levels are driving the avalanche hazard for Wednesday. Natural avalanches are expected.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 30 cm of new snow and strong southerly wind is expected by Wednesday afternoon.

This brings 40 to 70 cm sitting above old hard surfaces in wind exposed areas, facets and surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and crust on low elevation solar aspects.

Two layers of surface hoar from January can be found in the top meter of the snowpack.

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

Tuesday Night

New snow 5 to 10 cm. 40 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Wednesday

Snow 15 to 20 cm. 55 to 85 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Thursday

Snow 5 to 10 cm. 25 to 55 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with a trace of new snow. 10 km south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 900 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.

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.