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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2026–Apr 8th, 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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Kispiox, Ningunsaw.

Wind slabs are likely to remain reactive to human-triggering.

Continually assess as you travel, back off steep terrain if you see signs of instability, like shooting cracks.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle of storm slab and wind slabs were reported across the region. Sizes were generally size 2 to 2.5. Numerous wet loose avalanches were also reported up to size 2.

Wind slab activity is expected to continue and clear skies are likely to trigger a wet loose cycle.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow is being redistributed by moderate northwest winds developing wind slabs in lee terrain features at upper elevations.

Below this, there are several various old surfaces depending on aspect and elevation:

  • A sun crust on solar aspects.

  • Faceted snow and/or surface hoar in sheltered northerly aspects.

  • Firm wind-pressed snow.

A layer of facets and/or surface hoar from earlier in March can be found 50 to 100 cm deep.

Several persistent weak layers are buried up to 250 cm deep. While triggering these layers is becoming unlikely, they present a low-probability, high-consequence problem.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.

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.