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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 29th, 2026–Jan 30th, 2026

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

Regions

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Travel with an assessment mindset as you investigate the outcome of the storm. Wind-loaded features will be the first to reveal how new snow is bonding to the old surface.

Confidence

High

  • The snowpack structure is well understood.
  • We are uncertain about forecast snowfall amounts.

Avalanche Summary

No new or even recent avalanches have been reported in the region. Moderate snowfall in Thursday night's forecast finally suggests some change is on the way. The coastal region is in the midst of a natural avalanche cycle while inland snow accumulations have lagged behind.

Snowpack Summary

15 - 20 cm of new snow should accumulate in the region by mid-morning Friday, adding to about 10 cm of recent snow above our drought layer.

In the alpine, this layer consists of heavy wind effect and hard crust. The crust extends as high as 2300 m and is most supportive at mid and higher elevations. Large surface hoar can be found on the crust at treeline and below treeline. Forecast rain and wet loose avalanche conditions may help neutralize the problem at lower elevations.

A layer of facets is buried around 50 to 100 cm deep, for the most part locked under the supportive crust.

The mid and lower snowpack have no layers of concern. Snowpack depths are around 150-200 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Cloudy with increasing snowfall bringing 10 to 15 cm of new snow. 20 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind, increasing. Freezing level dipping from 1600 m to 1100 m during the storm.

Friday
Cloudy with easing flurries bringing about 5 cm of new snow, becoming light rain below 1600 m. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline temperature reaching 1 or 2 °C with freezing level rising from 1100 m to 1700 m.

Saturday
A mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries. 20 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy after overnight flurries bring up to 5 cm of new snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature reaching 0 °C with freezing level to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.