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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2025–Mar 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

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of high hazard.

Rain and high freezing levels can trigger avalanches on buried weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, numerous natural and explosive triggered wet slab avalanches were reported up to size 3.

On Monday, numerous large slab avalanches were seen up to size 2.5.

We expect avalanche activity to continue with both wet and large slab avalanches being easy to trigger during this warm period.

Snowpack Summary

We have received up to 30 mm of recent precipitation; snow above 1500 m and rain below this elevation. Expect deeper and more reactive deposits on north—and east-facing slopes. This overlies 40 cm of recent snow. Expect to find rain-soaked or moist snow below 1500 m.

This overlies 50 cm of settled snow and then a melt-freeze crust on southerly slopes and at lower elevations.

A weak layer formed in early March found down 150 to 230 cm, consists of a crust on all aspects except high north-facing slopes. In some areas, a layer of surface hoar is found just above the crust.

Weak layers formed in mid-February and late January are now buried 200 to 300 cm deep.

Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy. 15 to 45 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with sunny periods and light rain 5 mm. 15 to 35 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level rises to 3000 m.

Thursday

Wet flurries 5 to 10 cm above 1500 m falling as rain below. 15 to 35 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 2 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with a mix of rain and snow 10 to 15 cm. 15 gusting to 60 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

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.

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

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.