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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2025–Mar 17th, 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

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

Unsettled conditions continue, with the potential for significant localized snowfall.

Verify conditions as you go and adjust terrain choices if you notice signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a few dry loose avalanches (size 1) were triggered out of steep terrain by wind on northerly slopes near Mount Washington.

Human-triggered storm slabs also occurred during this stormy period (up to size 1) on west, north and east aspects at treeline and below throughout the region.

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

Snowpack Summary

The region received another 15 to 20 cm of new snow this weekend, accompanied by moderate to strong southerly wind, building new storm slabs on most aspects. Unsettled conditions have brought up to 35 cm of new snow in localized areas. Under this storm snow, a thin crust is found on southerly aspects.

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

Sunday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

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.