This is an archived advisory related to a fatality near Forster Creek, Feb 23, 2025

Date Issued: Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 04:00
Valid Until: Monday, February 24, 2025 at 04:00
Prepared by: Avalanche Canada

Danger will be HIGH in areas that recieve more than 20 cm of new snow.
In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.

Danger Ratings
Sunday
All Elevations: 3 - Considerable 

Terrain and Travel Advice

    Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
    Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
    Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
    Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.

Problems

Avalanche Problem 1: Storm slab
All Elevations, All Aspects
Chances of Avalanches: Very likely
Expected Size: Small - Large

Storm slabs are expected to be increasingly reactive throughout the day. At lower elevations it will rain, making wet slabs and loose wet avalanches likely.

Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent slab
All Elevations, All Aspects
Chances of Avalanches: Possible to likely
Expected Size: Small - Large

Persistent weak layers are expected to become increasingly reactive throughout the storm.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1 to 1.5 dry loose avalanches occurred this week.

Thursday, three persistent slabs (size 1.5 to 2.5) were observed in the alpine in various parts of the region. One was remotely triggered by a skier and the others occurred naturally.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of recent storm snow has fallen across parts of the region, accompanied by moderate southwesterly winds, forming new storm slabs. An additional 10 to 25 cm is expected overnight and through Sunday, with rain at lower elevations. This accumulating snow is settling on a surface hoar or crust layer from mid-February, currenty buried 10 to 25 cm deep. Beneath that, a persistent weak layer of facets, surface hoar, or crust from late January lies 30 to 50 cm down. Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets from early December is buried 70 to 120 cm from the surface. At the base, facets or depth hoar remain present in many areas.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow / possible rain below 1500 m. 35 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow / possible rain below 1500 m. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.

Confidence: Moderate. We are confident the snowpack will rapidly lose strength with the arrival of the forecast weather. Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.