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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2025–Mar 20th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
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

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

Stormy weather returns !

Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, a large slab avalanche (size 2.5)was triggered by a giant cornice fall on a north alpine slope on Mount Cain. It was triggered by a person stepping very close to the cornice.

Avalanche activity will increase during this stormy period and a natural cycle is expected.

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

Snowpack Summary

40 to 60 cm of new snow is expected by Thursday afternoon, forming touchy storm slabs. This overlies firm wind-transported snow in lee terrain at upper elevations and moist, heavy snow or a melt-freeze crust on southerly slopes, especially at lower elevations.

A robust crust, formed in early March, can be found down 90 to 130 cm. The snow above is well bonded to this crust.

Below this, the snowpack is well consolidated and strong.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of new snow. 60 to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 30 to 45 cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.