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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 12th, 2026–Mar 13th, 2026

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, North Columbia, Blue River, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, Renshaw, Robson.

Manage new wind slabs by seeking sheltered powder, but don't rule out persistent slabs just yet. Treeline where the recent crust is weak seems the most likely terrain to deal out a surprise.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly persistent slabs are gaining strength.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no avalanche observations since the widespread natural avalanche cycle during the storm on the weekend. It produced:

  • Storm and wind slabs size 2-3, on northeast to southeast aspects at alpine and treeline elevations.

  • Several size 3 persistent slab avalanches suspected to have run on the February crust layer. These observations were concentrated at treeline elevation in the east of the region.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 50 cm of snow since March 7 sits on firm old wind effect in the alpine and exposed treeline and on a melt-freeze crust to at least 1600 m.

A few weak layers, particularly one from late January one from early February, both consisting of surface hoar, facets, and/or crust, are buried roughly 100 to 150 cm deep. These are showing up less and less in snowpack test results but may remain a problem in more isolated thin-to-thick snowpack areas above the elevation of our newest crust. A north aspect profile at 1600 m in the lower Canoe produced moderate, propagating results on the 90 cm-deep January layer in an extended column test Wednesday.

The remainder of the snowpack is generally strong, with no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy with flurries bringing about 5 cm of new snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing about 5 cm of new snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, shifting west. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow, including overnight. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.

Problems

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.

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.