Avalanche forecast

Coquihalla

Dec 24 – 25, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Snowfall, wind, and warming are a recipe for dangerous avalanche conditions!

It's a good day to avoid overhead hazard make conservative terrain choices.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Stormy conditions on Wednesday will continue to build fresh storm slabs, with deeper, more reactive deposits in wind-loaded terrain.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    In areas where rain is impacting dry snow, wet loose avalanches are likely in steep terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, several natural size 1 to 2 storm slabs were observed at treeline and below. One size 1 natural wind slab was observed on Zoa peak from below a south-facing alpine cliffband.

Looking forward to Wednesday, ongoing snowfall and wind will continue to form reactive storm slabs, which could be surprisingly deep, especially in wind-loaded terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of new snow by end of day Wednesday overlies over 100 cm of settled storm snow from the past week. Strong southerly winds have created a variety of surfaces - wind slabs and loaded pockets in lee features, scoured rock in open terrain, and storm slabs and softer snow in sheltered areas.

Below this recent snowfall, a melt-freeze crust could exist to near mountaintop. The depth of this crust is highly variable due to extensive recent wind transport.

Snow depths at the treeline are estimated to range from 200 to 250 cm.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • It's a good day to make conservative terrain choices.
  • Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

Regions covered