Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2026–Mar 27th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Howson, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is most likely.

Very large human-triggered avalanches are possible.

Confidence

Moderate

We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wind and persistent slab avalanches failed over the last few days, some cornice-triggered.

Observations in this region are limited, and there's uncertainty about buried weak layers in the upper/mid snowpack.

In the neighbouring region, a fatal avalanche accident occurred north of Terrace on March 22. Available details can be found here.

Submit to the MIN and keep your terrain choices conservative.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of recent snowfall was accompanied by easterly winds, which have now shifted to the south, creating wind slabs on a variety of aspects and wind-affected surfaces. Below the recent snow are a variety of surfaces, including small surface hoar, facets, crusts, and wind-scoured snow.

There are multiple persistent weak layers consisting of crust/facets or surface hoar in the top 200 cm of the snowpack. We have limited information on the distribution and reactivity of these layers.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy. 3 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Friday

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

Saturday

Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 3 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.

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.

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.

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.