Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 24th, 2025–Apr 25th, 2025

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Daytime warming may cause wet loose avalanches and cornice failures, which could trigger buried weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few small wind slabs were observed on northwest alpine slopes on Wednesday. Otherwise, small (size 1) loose wet and cornice failures were observed at treeline and alpine elevations. We suspect similar small avalanche activity could continue for the coming days.

The most recent persistent slab avalanches occurred last Sunday, which were triggered by large cornice failures. Cornices continue to be a prime suspect for triggering large, destructive avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 to 15 cm of dry snow may be found on high elevation north aspects, with potentially deeper deposits in immediate lee terrain due to strong southwest wind. Elsewhere, a hard melt-freeze crust is likely found on the snow surface, which may soften with daytime warming.

At alpine and treeline elevations, a layer of surface hoar that formed in early March may be found around 70 to 120 cm deep. A layer of facetted grains and a crust that formed mid-February may be found 120 to 200 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow in the alpine and light rain below. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and clouds. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

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.

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.