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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2026–Apr 20th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Shames, Stewart.

Avalanche danger will increase through the day with warming and sun—plan your day accordingly.

Dry, wintery snow may persist at higher elevations, along with reactive wind slabs.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.
  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches (up to size 1.5) were reported across the region on Saturday. A few recent, large cornice failures were also observed in the Terrace area.

Check out these MIN reports from Saturday for more details:

Cornice abound and Zymbuck and Pollywood

Snowpack Summary

A widespread surface crust is likely to form overnight at treeline and above, except in high-alpine terrain (above ~2000 m), particularly on north aspects, where dry, wind-affected snow may persist.

Below treeline, limited overnight refreezing is likely to result in a moist or isothermal upper snowpack. With daytime warming and a chance of sun, the upper snowpack will weaken throughout the day.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche danger will increase as the surface crust breaks down.
  • Think carefully about your exit plan from the backcountry because avalanche danger is expected to increase throughout the day.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.