Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2026–Mar 20th, 2026

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Loose avalanches may start small but can quickly grow and push you into hazardous terrain. Stay alert to changing conditions as you gain elevation.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain about alpine conditions due to limited field observations.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural cycle of loose wet and slab avalanches was reported on Wednesday.

Natural wet activity has likely decreased. Above the rain line, wind slabs are likely in lee features.

Snowpack Summary

Rain continues to saturate the upper snowpack. Above the rain line, new snow combined with strong southwest winds are building slabs in lee terrain.

The early March crust is buried 80 to 120 cm deep, though it remains highly variable and may be as shallow as 20 cm in some areas.

Below this, the lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy. 5 to 25 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Friday

Cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Sunday

Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes in the alpine.
Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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.